Why are Kenya’s youth taking to the streets against President William Ruto?

Kenya is witnessing a sustained wave of youth-led demonstrations that have evolved into a major political and human rights crisis.

Originally sparked by economic grievances and a proposed tax law, the protests have since broadened into widespread opposition to President William Ruto’s administration.

Demonstrations escalated following the death of a young blogger in police custody and the fatal police shooting of a civilian at close range during a protest.

Clashes heated during the commemorations of Saba Saba Day on July 7, a symbolic date in Kenya’s democratic history.

What triggered the protests in Kenya?

While economic dissatisfaction has long simmered among Kenyans, the immediate trigger came last year when Kenyans protested against a proposed finance bill introduced by the Ruto administration.

The bill, which critics warned would make essential goods more expensive, reignited frustrations over the high cost of living. Though the government withdrew the initial proposal following public backlash, many of the same contentious levies were reinstated weeks later.

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The reinstated measures included excise taxes on sugar, alcohol, and plastics, as well as increased charges on mobile phone and internet services.

Higher import duties further contributed to the cost burden. These financial pressures resonated especially with Kenya’s youth, many of whom are unemployed or underemployed.

Amid this economic discontent, the death of blogger Albert Ojwang while in police custody added fuel to the fire. His case provoked public fury, especially after reports that senior police officials had previously raised complaints about his social media activity.

The subsequent resignation of Deputy Police Inspector General Eliud Langat, who had filed a complaint against Ojwang, did little to calm tensions.

Protests swelled again on June 25 this year — exactly one year after mass rallies against the same finance bill — and then again on July 7, Saba Saba Day, a historic date associated with Kenya’s pro-democracy struggle in 1990.

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Demonstrators turned out in multiple counties, citing not just economic issues but also corruption, police violence and what they described as Ruto’s authoritarianism.

Where are the protests taking place in Kenya?

The largest gatherings occurred in the capital, Nairobi, where thousands of protesters — many of them waving Kenyan flags — converged on government buildings.

Security forces blocked access to Parliament and the president’s office using razor wire and barriers. Several businesses, banks and public offices were shut down as a precaution.

But the movement has extended far beyond Nairobi. Demonstrations took place in at least 20 out of Kenya’s 47 counties.

According to the Police Reforms Working Group and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), the unrest reached cities such as Mombasa, Kisii, Kisumu, Eldoret, Meru, Nakuru, Kajiado, Kiambu and others.

In some areas, protesters clashed with police, leading to significant destruction of public and private property, including supermarkets and hospitals.

In Maatu, a town about 80 kilometres from Nairobi, police reportedly opened fire on protesters, killing at least two people and injuring several more.

Human rights groups accused law enforcement of using rubber bullets, live ammunition, tear gas and water cannons to suppress crowds. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said it was “deeply troubled” by reports of lethal force.

Among those killed was a 12-year-old girl in Kiambu, struck by a stray bullet while inside her home.

How has Ruto responded to the protests?

Speaking during a visit to an affordable housing site in Nairobi, Ruto instructed security forces to use violent means to stop property destruction during demonstrations.

“Anyone going to burn people’s property should be shot in the leg, be hospitalised and later taken to court upon recovery. Do not kill them but break their leg,” the Kenyan president declared.

He doubled down in subsequent statements, accusing his political rivals of inciting violence with the aim of forcibly removing him from power.

“This country will not be destroyed by a few people who are impatient and who want a change of government using unconstitutional means. It is not going to happen,” he said.

“Kenya cannot and will not be ruled through threats, terror, or chaos. Not under my watch.”

Ruto further warned that any assault on law enforcement would be treated as “a declaration of war,” adding that “you can call me whatever names you want to call me, but I will make sure there is peace and stability in Kenya by all means.”

Despite mounting criticism, Ruto maintained that his administration was the first to seriously tackle the youth unemployment crisis. He questioned why discontent had spiked during his tenure: “Why cause all the chaos during my time?”

How have the protests impacted Kenya?

The KNCHR said that at least 31 people were killed on July 7 alone, with more than 100 injured and at least 532 people arrested during the protests.

These figures bring the total death toll from demonstrations over the past year to over 100. The Kenya police, however, reported only 11 deaths on July 7.

In its official statement, the KNCHR also noted two cases of forced disappearance and accused police of colluding with armed gangs. These gangs, reportedly equipped with machetes and spears, were allegedly used to terrorise protester strongholds.

Opposition figures and civil society groups have condemned what they describe as state-sponsored violence. Religious organisations and rights bodies have called for independent investigations into the killings, looting, property damage and arbitrary detentions.

At least two hospitals were ransacked during the unrest, with medical equipment stolen and staff members harassed, according to local reports.

In response to allegations of political interference and unlawful detentions, five police officers have been charged in connection with the blogger’s death and a separate shooting of a civilian. Investigations remain ongoing.

Meanwhile, opposition leaders have accused the government of transporting armed gangs using unmarked vehicles and staging targeted violence in opposition-dominated areas.

They issued a nationwide boycott of businesses perceived to be aligned with the ruling administration, calling the current regime “hostile” and declaring that “it cannot be reasoned with.”

“This regime is hostile. It cannot be reasoned with. It must be resisted. We will not rest. We will not retreat. We will not surrender,” read a joint opposition statement.

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who was elected alongside Ruto in 2022 but later impeached after a fallout, pushed back against claims that the opposition sought to unseat the president through unconstitutional means.

“Nobody wants you out of government unconstitutionally. We want to face you on the ballot in August 2027, so just relax,” Gachagua said.

Calls for calm also came from the Kenya National Cohesion and Integration Commission, a government body that condemned excessive force and warned against the politicisation of ethnicity in times of civil unrest.

Kenya’s Chief Justice Martha Koome voiced concern that escalating protests risk damaging the country’s hard-won democratic gains, urging restraint from all sides.

Slogans like “Ruto must go” and “wantam” — a shorthand for “one term” — have become rallying cries in towns and cities across the African nation.

With inputs from agencies