Kenyan activists reevaluate strategies as protests descend into violence

WORLD  04 July 2024 - 09:05

Kenyan activists are rethinking their approach to anti-government protests after demonstrations on July 2 turned violent, threatening to derail their movement and their call for President William Ruto’s resignation.

Protest leaders argue that the violence was instigated by "goons" hired by political figures to undermine the demonstrations and push their own agendas. Some activists are even calling for the cancellation of the next planned protest on July 2 to reassess their strategy, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Ojango Omondi, an activist in Nairobi, criticized the use of violence to discredit the protests. "It seems the state has realized that using goons to incite violence and loot is their way of countering this movement," he said. "We need to strategize on how to overcome this violence and keep our protests focused on their true objectives."

Kenyan government officials have yet to respond to these claims. Interior Minister Kithure Kindike accused "marauding criminal gangs" of hijacking the protests to politicize crime. Initially peaceful demonstrations against proposed tax hikes last month had seen police use tear gas and water cannons against protesters. The movement, which brought together diverse Kenyans around economic grievances, diverged from previous protests that often centered on political or ethnic issues.

Recent protests became increasingly violent, with demonstrators storming parliament and police responding with force, resulting in numerous deaths. After President Ruto withdrew the tax increases, protesters expanded their demands to include anti-corruption measures and Ruto’s resignation.

On July 2, the protests quickly descended into chaos as stone-throwing protesters clashed with police and looters targeted businesses, causing some demonstrators to abandon the protests. Young actress Foi Wambui expressed her frustration, stating that the violence had discouraged peaceful protesters from participating in the demonstrations.

Government officials and their allies have used the violence to discredit the movement, which has been popular among young people, dubbed the "Gen Z protests." Dennis Itumbi, a political consultant, shared a video of street violence, while Gerald Bitok, the presidency’s communications director, claimed that young people were turning against the protests.

In response, a large online forum debated the movement’s tactics. Some argued that continuing the protests could lead to further violence and casualties, suggesting that the movement should reconsider its approach.

"We will have more casualties and we will not achieve what we want," one speaker said. "Let’s go back and strategize."

This internal debate reflects the movement's struggle to maintain momentum and achieve its objectives amidst increasing violence and opposition.

Caliber.Az