Protests are still ongoing in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi against a finance bill that is supposed to hike living costs, despite the president’s announcement that he will not sign it.
As many people continue to express anxiety that President William Ruto would change his mind and sign the financial law before next week’s deadline, some demonstrators have called for Ruto’s resignation, accusing him of poor administration.
Police fired tear gas at protesters in Nairobi as many businesses remained closed for fear of looting.
The main highway to Kenya’s second largest city, Mombasa, was closed as protesters lit bonfires.
Some members of the youth-led protests have expressed worries that other Kenyans are using the unrest as an excuse to cause violence.
Last week’s protests were deadly as police opened fire. The two weeks of protests have left 39 people dead, according to the Kenya National Human Rights Commission.
In response to certain protesters’ requests, the president has offered to engage in dialogue with Kenyan youth and has promised budget cuts on travel and hospitality for his office. As unemployment stays high and prices rise, there is indignation about the president’s and other senior officials’ lavish lifestyles.
Members of the young but leaderless protest movement have stated that they do not trust the president to carry out his new austerity policies.
On Tuesday, Kenya’s largest opposition party urged Ruto’s government to accept responsibility for the fatalities that occurred last week.
