President William Ruto suggested certain of Nairobi on Wednesday, retreating to Kilifi County as thousands of Gen Z protesters took to the streets across the nation to impress the first anniversary of the historic June 25, 2024 demonstrations.
While police engaged in running battles with protestors in Nairobi’s CBD, Kitengela, Kisii, Nyeri and contrivance of Thika Avenue, the President used to be attending the funeral of the father of Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro in Dabaso.
The head of negate used to be accompanied by key govt allies including Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, and inclined Prime Minister Raila Odinga, now seen as a key ally in Ruto’s big-basically based mostly govt affiliation.
President Ruto had on Tuesday defended the police, urging them to act decisively against what he described as civil disobedience, whilst rights groups and envoys warned against coarse force.
His absence from the capital during a day of nationwide tension and remembrance did no longer proceed skipped over, especially as many Kenyans grew to develop into out to honor the over 60 lives misplaced during final year’s anti-Finance Invoice protests that culminated in the dramatic storming of Parliament.
With emotions running high and modern calls for justice echoing across the nation, Ruto’s light presence in Kilifi raised eyebrows, even because the governmentcontinued to maintain a difficult stance against demonstrators.
Wednesday’s anniversary used to be marked by heavy police deployment, intermittent violence, and a media clampdown, nonetheless moreover by extremely effective moments of peace and solidarity among the Gen Z-led protestors.
