Despite Kenyan president’s U-turn, strong police presence ahead of planned protests in Nairobi

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Heavy security forces were deployed in Kenya’s capital Nairobi on Thursday ahead of planned protests against a controversial finance bill, despite the president’s decision not to sign the bill after the plans sparked deadly chaos in the capital and protesters stormed and burned parts of the parliament building.

Protesters who said last week they would march to the State House on Thursday say they still do not trust the president William Rutowho had announced that tax increases would be reversed and budget cuts would be made.

Vice President Rigathi Gachagua called on the young demonstrators on Wednesday to cancel their planned protests and give dialogue a chance.

The leaderless movement began online with young people demanding that parliamentarians reject the proposed tax increases. It later escalated into calls for the president to resign after the bill was passed. On Tuesday, thousands of protesters stormed the Kenyan parliament, burning parts of the building and forcing parliamentarians to flee. Police opened fire and at least 22 people were reportedly killed in the chaos.

Activists were divided over the agenda of Thursday’s protests. One protester, Boniface Mwangiurged others to march peacefully to Parliament Road, where protesters were killed, to pay their respects. “Invading State House is not a solution,” he wrote on X.

But Francis Gaitho, one of the many activists who mobilized for the protests online, insisted that the young people should march to the State House.

Activists and others warned that the stakes were higher than in previous protests because Ruto vowed on Tuesday to quell the unrest “at all costs.”

Analyst Javas Bigambo told the Associated Press that the discontent is partly due to Kenyans’ lack of confidence in the president to implement the austerity measures announced on Wednesday.

“Kenyans still have problems with the economy and waste in government,” he said.

US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Ruto on Wednesday and thanked him for his steps to ease the situation.

“The Foreign Minister stressed the importance of security forces showing restraint and refraining from violence and called for an immediate investigation into allegations of human rights violations,” it said in a statement.

While Ruto is welcomed by the US as a welcome, stable partner in Africa, frustration with the US and some other Western powers is growing elsewhere on the continent.

In May, Ruto traveled to Washington for the first state visit by an African leader in 16 years. On Tuesday, as protests erupted, the US designated Kenya as its first major non-NATO ally in sub-Saharan Africa, a largely symbolic move but one that highlighted their security partnership. Also on Tuesday, hundreds of Kenyan police were deployed to lead a multinational force against gangs in Haiti, an initiative for which President Joe Biden thanked him.