Police fire tear gas during clashes with protesters in Nairobi

Police have fired tear gas at dozens of protesters in Kenya’s capital and blocked off roads to the presidential palace as crowds took to the streets again nationwide.

The demonstrations took place over a controversial tax hike bill despite the president bowing to pressure to withdraw it.

Police fired tear gas canisters at groups of protesters trying to meet up within the central business district of Nairobi.

Crowds there, as well as in Mombasa, Kisumu and elsewhere, called for leader William Ruto to go further and step down.

At least 22 protesters were reportedly killed on Tuesday after thousands of people stormed the country’s national parliament.

And demonstrators still decided to go ahead with a protest march on Thursday.

Mr Ruto on Wednesday withdrew the finance bill, including new taxes, and said he intends to make budget cuts instead.

Kenya‘s deputy president Rigathi Gachagua has issued a plea for the demonstrations to be called off.

‘I won’t die on my knees’

The match has been lit and a flare of rage set off.

The clouds of tear gas in the heart of Kenya’s capital are doing little to disperse young protesters facing off against riot police after days of unrest.

They angrily shout: “Ruto must go.” Some throw rocks and glass bottles back at the police while dodging canisters and flash bombs.

We see young men singled out by the officers, beaten with batons and dragged along the street before being thrown into police trucks.

Two of them escape from the back and run off, yelling defiantly and merging back into the small crowds weaving through the tall buildings of Nairobi’s central business district.

Many have peeled away from the mass protests after a concession from President William Ruto to withdraw the contentions tax bill they gathered to reject.

But those who are still on the streets are unmoved by Mr Ruto’s words and the promises of his government. Outraged by growing corruption and enraged by the killing of protesters in the crackdown.

“They are f***ing killing us,” 24-year-old Kelvin yells at an active crossroad.

“We are protesting because they are not listening to us. He (Mr Ruto) could’ve said what he said before f***ing killing us. As a young nation we have to stand. I won’t die on my knees, I’ll die on my feet.”

One protester, Boniface Mwangi, urged demonstrators to march peacefully as a mark of respect for those who have died.

“Invasion of the State House isn’t a solution,” he wrote in a post on X.

But activists warn the stakes are higher than ever as Mr Ruto has committed to quashing unrest “at whatever cost”.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to Mr Ruto on Wednesday.

He thanked the president for taking steps to reduce tensions in the country.

In May, President Ruto became the first African leader in 16 years to pay a state visit to Washington.

On Tuesday, the US declared Kenya its first major non-NATO ally in sub-Saharan Africa.

This article was originally published by Sky.com. Read the original article here.

More on Kenya

Related Topics:

‘I won’t die on my knees’

Articles You May Like