Kenya: Heavy presence of police in Nairobi as youths threaten to protest

NAIROBI, Kenya - Police have been deployed in perceived hot spots within Kenya's capital Nairobi ahead of planned demonstrations by youths, who have been questioning the country's leadership of governance, rampant unemployment, and nepotism in various sectors.

As early as 5 am local time, police vehicles patrolled different parts of the city as heavily armed police officers checked on possible threats. Police leadership warned of possible infiltration by 'goons' in the planned march dubbed 'nane nane', literally translating to 8/8 (date and month).

Earlier, President William Ruto, who had disbanded his cabinet, reduced expenditure in government, and rejected the Finance Bill which guides collection of revenues, warned that those plotting more protests were 'anarchists derailing development'. He made the changes in government due to earlier protests.

The August 8 protest has been organized by a coalition of youth groups and civil society organizations. It is a response to years of economic hardship, high unemployment, and widespread corruption.

The youth-led movement has gained momentum, with social media playing a crucial role in mobilizing support. Young people are tired of empty promises, said activist 27-year-old Kasmuel McOure, who has emerged as a leading voice in the protest movement.

He is particularly angry over the wealth accumulated by Kenyan cabinet ministers in questionable circumstances.

Some of them have made 400 million shillings (€2.8 million, $3 million) over 30 years, he told DW. "However, in less than two years, someone has made capital gains of over 200 million [shillings]. What business is this that they are doing that we do not know of?"

"What stock markets are these that they are investing in that are doing so well that you can have capital gains of over 200 million [shillings] in less than two years when we are going through a recession? But no, you're telling us not to go on the streets for our rights?"

The new cabinet was approved on Wednesday by the National Assembly and the oath-taking ceremony is being conducted in State House, Nairobi. President William Ruto constituted a government of national unity (broad-based) where he included members of the opposition as part of his inclusiveness approach to governance following the June protests.

GAROWE ONLINE