Police in Kenya have indefinitely banned protests in the capital, Nairobi, citing a lack of leadership to ensure peaceful demonstrations.
The announcement came hours before a planned protest on Thursday, where demonstrators were expected to march to the president’s office, demanding his resignation over poor governance.
Acting police inspector general, Douglas Kanja, stated that the absence of leadership made it challenging to enforce safety protocols. Recent protests have resulted in significant business losses due to looting and arson.
While no protesters were seen on Thursday, major roads leading to the president’s office were barricaded by police. Kenya has experienced a month of protests, initially sparked by calls for legislators to vote against a controversial finance bill proposing higher taxes amid a cost-of-living crisis and growing public debt.
Since the protests began on June 18, at least 50 people have died, according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights. President William Ruto has stated he will not sign the finance bill, which was passed by parliament on June 25th—the same day protesters stormed and set fire to part of the building, forcing legislators to flee. Last week, President Ruto dismissed nearly his entire cabinet and the attorney general, as demanded by protesters accusing ministers of incompetence, corruption, and extravagance.
Police have faced accusations of brutality against protesters. On Friday, July 12th, 2024, former inspector general of police, Japhet Koome resigned following calls from demonstrators for him to take responsibility for the shootings of protesters. On Wednesday, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority announced it had forwarded four out of 10 cases of police brutality to the director of public prosecutions with recommendations. The watchdog recorded witness statements and directed various police officers to testify.
Kenyan police officers have previously been accused of brutality, and a contingent of 400 officers is currently in Haiti leading a UN-backed police mission to combat gang violence.
