Hundreds of Kenyans gathered in Nairobi’s Uhuru Park on Sunday, chanting slogans and dancing to commemorate the more than three dozen people killed in recent anti-government protests.
The demonstrations, which began on June 18, resulted in at least 39 deaths as protesters demanded the cancellation of planned tax hikes and the resignation of President William Ruto.
“The government is listening now because of the protests. So we are kind of happy, but there’s also a lot of sadness because so many people died for the government to listen,” said activist Boniface Mwangi, who attended the concert. “We’re mourning, and we’re telling the families of those who lost their loved ones that we are with you, and we shall honor their sacrifice.”
At the concert featuring local artists, young attendees held placards reading “RIP Comrades” and “We promise we’ll keep fighting” while chanting “Ruto must go.” Some even hammered crosses into the ground to symbolize their grief and determination.
In response to the escalating protests last month, President Ruto scrapped the finance bill, which would have introduced several new taxes, raising the already high cost of living. On Friday, Ruto proposed new austerity measures, including reducing the number of his advisers and dissolving 47 state corporations to address a budget gap created by the withdrawal of the tax hikes, which were expected to raise $2.7 billion.
Sunday’s concert coincided with Saba Saba Day, July 7, marking the anniversary of the 1990 protests that pressured the government of the late leader Daniel Arap Moi to return to multi-party politics.
