The World Briefly

March 29, 2023

Defiance and Fury

Kenya

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Anti-government protests in Kenya turned deadly this week, sparking worries of escalating violence for Kenyans who are already grappling with soaring inflation and unemployment, Agence France-Presse reported Tuesday.

Police and protesters clashed in the capital Nairobi and the western city of Kisumu as demonstrators took to the streets despite authorities warning that such marches are “illegal.” One person was killed in Kisumu, the second fatality since the opposition-led protests kicked off last week.

Meanwhile, hundreds of looters broke into the home of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, stealing sheep and cutting down trees before setting ablaze a section of the property.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga has called for protests every Monday and Thursday, accusing President William Ruto of stealing last year’s election and failing to get a handle on the country’s economic woes.

Many Kenyans are struggling to make ends meet amid rising costs of basic goods, a plunging local currency and a record drought that has left millions hungry. Ruto – who vowed to improve the lives of ordinary Kenyans – has recently removed subsidies for fuel and maize flour.

On Tuesday, the African Union voiced “deep concern” about the ongoing violence, calling for calm and political dialogue.

Similarly, Kenya’s National Cohesion and Integration Commission, has also called for dialogue “as a means of moving our country forward.” The peace-building commission was set up after the 2007-2008 post-election clashes that killed more than 1,100 people.

This story originally appeared in the March 29, 2023 newsletter, Books, Traffic and Trauma.