- Title: Anti-government protesters and police clash in Kenya's capital, Nairobi
- Date: 2nd July 2024
- Summary: NAIROBI, KENYA (JULY 2, 2024) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF POLICE FIRING STUN GRENADES / PROTESTERS DISPERSING / POLICE RUNNING AFTER PROTESTERS POLICE HOLDING STUN GRENADE GUNS VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS CHANTING AND DANCING IN FRONT OF POLICE OFFICERS POLICE ARRESTING A PROTESTER AND PUTTING HIM AT THE BACK OF A POLICE CAR A FIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD / PROTESTERS IN THE BACKGROUND PROTESTERS RUNNING AWAY AS STUN GRENADES GO OFF PROTESTERS SHOUTING IN THE BACKGROUND POLICE VEHICLE MOVING AROUND PROTESTERS SHOUTING AND DANCING PROTESTERS STOMPING ON TOP OF A VEHICLE, CHANTING PROTESTER HOLDING THE KENYAN FLAG POLICE PATROLLING A STREET POLICE CROSSING THE ROAD
- Embargoed: 16th July 2024 12:08
- Keywords: bill finance kenya nairobi police protest tax teargas
- Location: NAIROBI, KENYA
- City: NAIROBI, KENYA
- Country: Kenya
- Topics: Africa,Conflicts/War/Peace,Civil Unrest
- Reuters ID: LVA001547902072024RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Kenyan riot police fired tear gas at protesters in Nairobi on Tuesday (July 2) and demonstrations erupted in other cities across the country demanding the resignation of President William Ruto, following a week of deadly clashes in anti-tax protests.
Clouds of tear gas wafted over downtown Nairobi after protesters set fires on Waiyaki Way, the main road running through the centre of the capital, and threw stones at police in the central business district. Members of the protest movement, which has no official leaders and largely organizes via social media, have rejected Ruto's appeals for dialogue, even after he abandoned the proposed tax rises that triggered the demonstrations.
The protests, which started as an online outpouring of anger over nearly $2.7 billion of tax hikes in a proposed finance bill, have grown into a nationwide movement against corruption and misgovernance. Ruto has directed the treasury to come up with ways to cut spending to fill a budget gap caused by the withdrawal of the tax plans, and also said more borrowing will be required.
The protests had been mostly peaceful until last Tuesday (June 25), when some demonstrators briefly stormed parliament and set part of it ablaze, prompting police to open fire. Ruto has defended the actions of the police, and blamed the violence on "criminals" who hijacked the demonstrations.
(Production: Jefferson Kahinju, Mukelwa Hlatshwayo) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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