Five keys to understanding the anti-government protests in Kenya

The anti-government protests in Kenya, which began on June 18 over a bill that contemplated tax increases, sowed chaos in the East African country, a great ally of the West and one of the most stable and safe in the region.

After experiencing an unprecedented day on Tuesday in which protesters stormed Parliament and the Police shot dead at least 23 people throughout the country, Kenyan President William Ruto on Wednesday refused to sign the bill that motivated the revolts.

“I give in. I will not sign the Finance Bill 2024. It will be withdrawn completely,” Ruto announced at the Presidency headquarters in Nairobi.

Thus, the law will not come into force despite having been approved by the National Assembly (Lower House of Parliament).

What began Tuesday as a peaceful protest by tens of thousands of young people in the Kenyan capital and other cities in at least 35 of the country’s 47 counties turned into a pitched battle between security forces and protesters in Nairobi.

The keys to understanding the demonstrations are as follows:

1. Finance Bill of 2024: the trigger.

The violence erupted over the parliamentary process of the 2024 Finance Bill, the annual law governing the state budget, which on this occasion contemplated raising some taxes and creating others.

The Government intended to raise $2.7 billion to reduce the budget deficit and state debt, but protesters maintain that the measures pushed a population already suffocated by high taxes into poverty.

The bill initially proposed proposed new taxes, such as the 16% VAT on bread, in addition to the increase in some existing taxes, such as the mobile money transfer service.

2. From peaceful protests to the assault on Parliament.

This Tuesday was the third day of peaceful protests in the last week. But what began as just another march in Nairobi led to protesters throwing stones and objects at the Police, who responded with great violence.

Chanting “Ruto must go!”, hundreds of protesters managed to invade Parliament and set fire to part of the building, as well as other nearby official buildings, such as the Governor’s Office in Nairobi City Hall.

The attackers smashed furniture, windows and flags, while accusing politicians of being “traitors” after 195 deputies voted in favour of the controversial text, compared to 106 votes against.

3. Strong police response and military deployment.

At least 23 people were shot dead by the Police on Tuesday in different cities in Kenya, in addition to two others killed in previous demonstrations, according to twenty NGOs.

“Since I came into office, there has not been any incident of extrajudicial killing,” said Ruto, who denied any police killings and only admitted the “very unfortunate” deaths of “six young people.”

On the other hand, the Nairobi High Court ruled to suspend the deployment of the Army ordered the day before by the Government, after the measure was challenged by the Kenya Bar Association.

4. Young people, at the head of the mobilizations.

Unlike the anti-government protests that Kenya has historically experienced, which have been violent and driven by political leaders, these protests are being called for by young people from the so-called ‘generation Z’ (born between the mid-nineties and the first decade of the 21st century).

The protests are promoted through social networks such as TikTok, X or Instagram and used to have, until this Tuesday, a peaceful tone.

As Kenya has been experiencing partial internet cuts and unstable connections since Tuesday, there is uncertainty about the immediate future of the protests, which were scheduled to continue on Thursday.

5. Endemic corruption and poverty.

Although the draft Finance Law of 2024 was the trigger for the protests, population discontent is not new in a country where high salaries for public officials and political corruption are widespread.

Kenyans, whose minimum wage is 15,120 shillings per month (about 110 euros at the current exchange rate), do not perceive that their high taxes of around 30% have any impact on a true welfare state with quality public services and infrastructure.

While the political class lives luxurious lives far removed from social reality, a large part of the population struggles to make ends meet, not just at the end of the month, but at the end of the day or the week.