In brief
On the anniversary of deadly tax protests, Kenyans took to the streets in massive demonstrations against economic struggles and police brutality.
Thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of Nairobi and other Kenyan cities on Wednesday, marking a year since fatal protests erupted over a controversial tax plan. The police responded to the surging unrest with tear gas, as protesters voiced their frustrations over growing economic hardships and demanded accountability for the police force following incidents of brutality.In central Nairobi, crowds waved Kenyan flags and blew whistles, while banks and businesses shut down their operations amid a heightened police presence. Key roads leading to Parliament were barricaded with barbed wire, effectively sealing off access to government officials.Among the demonstrators was 24-year-old Don Cliff Ochieng, a security guard who expressed his outrage over the lack of economic opportunities and the unwarranted force used by police against civilians. "Many of us are being killed with no reason. It is our right to demonstrate,” he stated.The protests were a stark reminder of the previous year's demonstrations when tens of thousands rallied against the government's proposed finance bill, which many believed would impose increased taxes and exacerbate the cost of living. Those protests erupted into violent clashes, with some protesters setting the entrance of Parliament on fire in response to the legislature's approval of the bill.As the unrest unfolds, police chief Douglas Kanja Kirocho appealed to the public to avoid escalating provocations towards officers overseeing the demonstrations, urging a peaceful approach to the mounting tensions. Social media channels played a pivotal role in mobilizing the youth for these protests, as the collective demand for change grows louder throughout the nation.
