Two people were killed by bullets and at least 300 others were injured on Wednesday in Kenya during demonstrations commemorating the unprecedented and violently repressed movement a year ago, with particularly violent clashes in the capital Nairobi.
On June 25, 2024, the capture of the capital’s parliament by demonstrators, demanding the withdrawal of the finance law and the resignation of President William Ruto, had marked the peak of protests which had continued until July.
More than 60 people had been killed in total, and more than 80 people had been removed – sometimes months after demonstrations -, some of which are still missing, according to human rights groups.
On Wednesday, thousands of demonstrators, mainly young men, were again descended into the street in Nairobi but also in the big coastal city of Mombasa and other counties in the country.
If the demonstrations started in peace, many demonstrators, chanting “Liberation” or “a mandate” (for President Ruto, editor’s note) then threw stones on the police, who responded by launching tear gas and deafening grenades in large quantities. At least three water cannons have also been deployed.
– “Freedom is +bang +” –
In Kenya, “Liberty is +Bang +”, was sorry for a young age, head bandaged in a long compress, while the explosions multiplied around him. “We are here to light candles (for the 2024 dead, editor’s note). You can’t treat us like that,” yelled a man towards police.
At least 300 people were injured in Nairobi, 67 of whom are in critical condition, with suspicions of “bullet injuries” in some, an emergency team gathering several organizations including the Red Cross.
About a hundred kilometers from the capital, two people were killed by bullets and 8 others were injured in the Matuu subcommittee, a hospital official told AFP.
The families of the victims and the activists had called for peaceful rallies. Others have enjoined “occupying the presidential palace”.
At the end of the afternoon, local media still showed large numbers of demonstrators trying to reach the city center, and blocked by the police.
At the beginning of the afternoon, the Communication Authority in a letter prohibits radios and televisions from broadcasting images of the demonstrations live.
The decision did not seem to be respected immediately, most of the major media continuing their dissemination. Faith Odhiambo, lawyer and president of the Kenyan bar, denounced on X “the absolute legal nullity” of this announcement.
The Internet surveillance group Netblocks said in the afternoon that the operation of the Telegram platform was restricted.
In the capital, many demonstrators have chanted “Ruto must leave” – ​​a rallying cry for a year – and brandished flags and portraits of victims. Some have also laid flowers in front of Parliament.
Anger on police violence accentuated after the death in early June in a police station in Albert Ojwang, a 31 -year -old teacher arrested after criticizing a senior police official. The police initially tried to camouflage his death in suicide.
His death has already aroused demonstrations of a few hundred people in recent weeks, who have caused new brutality.
– “Oppression” –
Wednesday, Anthony, 25, sold flags while walking, against “police violence, oppression, high taxes and everything that does not go in this country.”
“The march is always peaceful, but it is when the police (starts to send) tear gas that it turns to chaos,” he adds.
A man suspected of being a plainclothes policeman was abused by demonstrators. Last year, unidentifiable security forces were seen shooting on the crowd.
During a rally on June 17 in Nairobi, armed “thugs” working in tandem with the police attacked protesters, had noted AFP journalists. A police officer also fired at close range on a seller who did not show violence, a filmed scene that has become viral that accentuated anger.
William Ruto has promised the police that his government would “support them”.
The unpopular president has endeavored to avoid any direct tax increase in this year’s budget in order to limit the troubles.
In addition to violence, corruption and economic difficulties, youth demands the jobs that the president had promised them during his campaign.
“The people who run here (…) They have diplomas. But they have no work. We cannot count on this government,” said Nairobi Samson Watenge Nyongesa, a 31 -year -old student.
Posted on June 25 at 6:35 p.m. AFP
