Kenya has been experiencing popular protests. The protests are from people, especially the youth and young adults tired of the economic hardship and financial woes, blamed on longterm widespread corruption and the lack of accountability and transparency within the Kenyan government. Over the last days, the protests have become violent with protestors setting ablaze the city hall, the governor's office, and the country's parliament in the capital Nairobi and the police shooting dead many protesters. The protests are getting the support of political activists and opposition leaders across Africa and the World, while William Ruto is being labelled the next incompetent African dictator.
The protests started with a low profile disagreement with the government policies, then spread on social media before growing into a strong movement of popular peaceful protests mostly in the capital Nairobi, then active and violent marches and rallies on the streets in the towns across the entire country.
William Ruto was elected President of Kenya in 2022, following disputed elections. Before being elected Kenyan President, he had been serving as the deputy of the president of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, for almost a decade and was known for convoluted political schemes. He was then labelled the heir of the Kenyatta's dominion, even though pledging to fight against the widespread corruption, improve the Kenyan economy almost at the threshold of collapse, help the poor, and promote democracy and freedom.
William Ruto's Dismal Record as Vice-President and President of Kenya
But, as soon as he took over as the new Kenyan president, he went in a different direction, demeaning people from other countries, allying himself with notorious African dictators, especially General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Tibuhaburwa of Uganda and General Paul Kagame of Rwanda and supporting invasions of regional countries, especially the Democratic Republic of the Congo by Rwandan Defense Forces troops under the cover of M23 rebels. Despite his dismal performance as President, William Ruto was received in the US during an unprecedented state visit to the White House by an African head of state (see USA - Kenya: Kenyan President William Ruto on State Visit in USA, After Conflicting Positions on Wars in DR Congo and Gangs in Haiti).
In February 2022, during a elections campaign, William Ruto made controversial comments mocking the Congolese population saying that they only seek to wear high waist trousers and are incapable of keeping and leveraging cows, to generate wealth.
He then said: "We have a market in DR Congo... these people are singers... These people have a population of about 90 million but they don't own any cow .. they only know how to wear high - waist trousers"
William Ruto's comments were then criticized by many Kenya politicians and government officials, as a reckless lack of vision and foresight, and unacceptable lack of respect for the Congolese people.
The other challenge, is that when William Ruto was about to head to the USA, for a state visit, he appeared to please Rwandan dictator Paul Kagame and rented a very expensive luxury private jet from Dubai-owned RoyalJet company, instead of using the presidential plane while the Kenyan people are facing serious economic challenges. The price of hiring the luxury private jet was estimated to be $1.5 millions.
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What is Next for Kenya's President William Ruto After the Protests and the Bloodshed?
However, despite the honors received during the visit to the USA, Kenyans point to the dismal record by William Ruto as Vice-President and then President, including the lack of clear measures to fight the widespread and worsening corruption and, hence, the fact that he is not trustworthy with his new tax bills.
The protests are an apparently determined youth-led movement, with a well coordinated action never seen in Kenya since 1963, when Kenya gained independence. William Ruto has deployed military troops to quash the protests.
In the latest protests on Tuesday, more that five protesters were shot dead by police and the military troops. During the protests, Auma Obama, the half-sister of former US President Barack Obama was among the protesters teargassed by police. She was teargassed during a live interview with CNN.
Despite the killings, the crowd, crashing with the police and the military, stormed the city hall, the governor's office, and the country's parliament in the capital Nairobi set them ablaze.
In an address to the nation on Tuesday June 25, 2024 evening, President William Ruto reiterated the decision to use all means to "thwart any attempts by dangerous criminals to undermine the security and stability of our country".
However, with the deteriorating situation, the killings of protesters, and the determined protesters, the future of William Ruto's rule is in limbo, as he has also become unpopular in the region and across Kenya.
Former president Uhuru Kenyatta has urged to prioritize dialogue, reminding Kenya's leaders to remember that "know that power and authority is donated to them by the people".
The protesters in Kenya have been supported by famous opposition and anti-establishment leaders in Africa including , South African politician Julius Malema, AfroAmerican Network Black Man of Year 2019 (Julius Malema: AfroAmerica Network Man of Year 2019), and Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine.
Western countries have expressed concern at the violence. The US Embassy in Kenya had issued a demonstration alert for US Citizens.
©2024 AfroAmerica Network.
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