Tear Gas and Tensions: Nairobi's Fiery Protests

Protests erupted in Nairobi over President William Ruto's governance, leading to tear gas deployment by police and citywide shutdowns. Activists voiced their discontent despite a reshuffled Cabinet. The Law Society of Kenya urged the protection of human rights. Ruto condemned the protests, warning of electoral repercussions in 2027.

Police used tear gas to disperse protesters calling for President William Ruto's resignation in Nairobi on Thursday, as a new Cabinet was sworn in.

Despite President Ruto's efforts to address grievances by reshuffling his Cabinet, including opposition members, activists organized the protests due to dissatisfaction with his governance.

Businesses shut down, and public transport avoided the usually bustling central business district, while police blocked roads leading into the city. The president's office was heavily guarded, with the new ministers sworn in.

Other major towns, including opposition stronghold Kisumu, remained calm, partly due to the inclusion of opposition figures in the new Cabinet. Civil society groups, alongside the Law Society of Kenya, issued a statement emphasizing the importance of upholding human rights and urging police to avoid using nonuniformed officers and unmarked vehicles during demonstrations.

President Ruto condemned the protests, suggesting that those seeking change could do so via the ballot box in 2027. However, activists, in a planned '8/8 Liberation March,' threatened to treat nonuniformed officers as criminals. The current wave of protests began on June 18 in response to a controversial finance bill, resulting in over 50 deaths, according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.

Despite dismissing all but one Cabinet minister, the protests continued, with demonstrators demanding the president's resignation over alleged bad governance, corruption, and lack of accountability.

(With inputs from agencies.)