By Enyichukwu Enemanna
At least one protester has been feared dead following a clash between Kenya’s security forces and the country’s young population who have returned to the streets, insisting on the immediate resignation of President William Ruto.
The confrontation at the outskirt of the capital Nairobi came despite the withdrawal of the controversial finance bill aimed at raising tax amidst escalating economic crisis, and high cost of living.
In central Nairobi, shops were closed down as police fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of demonstrators.
Heritage Times HT reports that the protests began last month after the passage of the now withdrawn tax bill was passed by the parliament.
Despite stepping down the bill, they have remained in the street over bad governance, corruption and seeking justice for deaths of dozens of demonstrators believed to have been killed by the police in recent protests.
Last week, President Ruto called for a “dialogue” as he fired his entire cabinet and the head of the police force resigned.
The protest movement is largely co-ordinated online by young Kenyans, many of whom have rejected talks and are calling for Mr Ruto “to go”.
The protesters chanted “Ruto must go”, lit fires on the road and threw stones as they clashed with the police, a BBC reporter at the scene says.
Chaotic scenes were also witnessed in other parts of the country, including in Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and Nyeri.
Earlier on Tuesday, the acting police chief said there was “credible intelligence” that “certain organised criminal groups” had planned “to infiltrate, disrupt and destabilise” the protests.
Douglas Kanja urged protesting Kenyans to be “peaceful and vigilant” and to “co-operate and co-ordinate with the police” to ensure their safety and “our collective security”.
