Kenya’s parliament and presidential office blockade ahead of anniversary protests
Nairobi, Kenya (AP) – The parliament and presidential office in Kenya’s capital Nairobi were blocked Wednesday ahead of the anniversary of the planned one-year anti-tax demonstration, with 60 killed and 20 others still missing.
The presence of police officers led to the roads in parliament being blocked by the Razor and President William Ruto’s state House office.
During last year’s protests, demonstrators rushed into parliament, and part of the building burned as lawmakers fled. The body was lying on the street, and medical staff and watchdogs said the police had opened fire. The military was deployed.
Kenyan youth are upset about the current government’s current government due to corruption, increased cost of living and police brutality and the death of the blogger who was detained recently. In recent protests, close shootings by civilians have exacerbated public anger.
Young Kenyans use social media to plan protests in honor of those who died last year. Government spokesman Isaac Mwaura said on Monday there will be no protests and Wednesday is a “normal working day.”
But businesses in Nairobi remained closed on Wednesday, with police moving vehicles to the CBD. Early in the morning, hundreds of Kenyans were already on the streets, chanting anti-government slogans, and police threw tear gas gunners among some of the crowds.
Wangechi Kahuria, executive director of the legal department of the independent medical institution, is a non-governmental organization that tracks the killings during the protests, saying Kenyans should be “allowed to mourn and go home”.
Police Inspector General Douglas Kanja said Tuesday that in protected areas such as Parliament and State Assembly, no unauthorized persons are allowed.
Local media posted names and photos of some people who died in protests last year on Wednesday. The main newspaper, Standard, is titled “luta continues”, which means “the struggle continues” in Portuguese, and is a rebel slogan during Mozambique’s struggle for independent colonial rule.
Political analyst Herman Manyora calls the protesters “heroes” and they pay the ultimate price and should be remembered.
“The authorities should work with the protesters to ensure good commemorations,” he said.
However, Molora warned that protesters remained unhappy with the authorities because “the government has been not protesting and has strengthened the determination of young people to continue fighting.”
During last year’s protests, President Ruto dissolved the cabinet accused of incompetence and corruption, but despite concerns, most of his former ministers maintained the cabinet in his new cabinet.
A financial bill that proposes high taxes passed by parliament has been withdrawn, but later this year, more taxes have been proposed through legislative amendments.
President Ruto appointed members of the opposition to the cabinet last year and signed a political agreement with his election rival, opposition leader Raila Odinga, in March.
