Kenyan Activists Revise Tactics Following Violent Protests

Kenyan activists leading anti-government protests are reassessing their approach following Tuesday’s violent and looting-plagued demonstrations. They suggest that politicians may have employed “goons” to sow chaos, tarnish genuine protesters, or promote their own interests.

Nevertheless, they concede that this poses a threat to their movement. The state seems to have resorted to using goons to instigate violence, vandalize properties, steal, and damage their cause.

Kenya’s government spokesperson declined to comment. Interior Minister Kithure Kindike attributed the violence to “roving criminal gangs” and accused some of attempting to “politicize crime.” The initial protests against proposed tax hikes last month were predominantly peaceful, although law enforcement deployed tear gas and water cannons against the crowd.

Protests have escalated into violence over the past week, including an incident where a group briefly stormed parliament and the police fatally shot several individuals. Following this, President William Ruto rolled back the tax hikes, but protesters vowed to press on, putting forth a variety of demands, spanning from anti-corruption initiatives to Ruto’s resignation.