Jul 16 (Jowhar.com)- At least one person died in renewed protests across Kenya today, as the police clashed with protesters demanding the resignation of President William Ruto.
The protestors said they want Ruto to resign and are calling for changes in the system to clean up corruption and deal with bad governance.
At least 50 people have been killed in the protests so far, according to the government-sponsored Kenya National Commission for Human Rights (KNCHR) on Tuesday.
In Kitengela, on the southern outskirts of the capital Nairobi, police fired repeatedly at hundreds of protesters, some of whom were throwing stones.
Protesters also burned tires and waved Kenyan flags, chanting “Ruto must go!”
Youth-led protests a month ago against proposed tax hikes continue as President Ruto withdraws the bill and sacks almost all of his cabinet.
A statement issued by the Ministry of Interior did not directly address today’s events, but said that the security agencies are under orders to exercise self-restraint.
The protests that took place were seen as some of the biggest since Ruto backed down on the tax hike on June 26.
The Nation newspaper reported that demonstrations took place in at least 23 of Kenya’s 47 regions.
In the center of the city of Nairobi, the anti-riot police fired tear gas at dozens of protestors, and medical doctors were seen carrying an injured person on a stretcher.
In the city of Nakuru, a journalist was injured, with footage from the television showing blood flowing from the reporter’s thigh.
Njeri Wa Migwi, an activist protesting in downtown Nairobi, said the protest was completely peaceful until the police started firing tear gas into the crowd.
Ruto’s office has announced multi-stakeholder talks that will continue this week to address the protesters’ grievances, but there is no sign of them starting. Most of the people who led the demonstration rejected the invitation and instead called for urgent action to be taken on issues such as corruption.
The protests started peacefully but later turned violent.
In addition to the 50 deaths, 413 people were injured, 682 were arrested, and 59 were kidnapped or missing in connection with the protests, KNCHR said.
Ruto has promised to investigate allegations of abuse but has strongly defended police conduct.
Last week, he accepted the resignation of the national police chief, which was also demanded by the protesters.
On Monday, Ruto accused the Ford Foundation, an American charity, of sponsoring those who perpetrated violence and unrest in Kenya, without providing evidence.
The Ford Foundation has denied the allegations, saying it does not fund or sponsor the protests and has a strict non-partisan grantmaking policy.
