Street Protest Flares Up in Nairobi Over Police Brutality and Tax Hikes
Civil Unrest Erupts in Kenya over Police-Involved Death; Authorities Unveil Budget Amidst Public Outcry
Straight-talkin' and unfiltered, let's dive into the latest demonstrations rockin' Nairobi's streets. This year's unrest is a mix of public discontent and anger over police misconduct and government's fiscal policies – ain't no sugarcoatin' it.
Remember Albert Ojwang, the 31-year-old teacher who went belly-up in police custody? His death sparked issues that were long bottled up – backlash against police brutality in Kenya. Young blood Tiffany, a 22-year-old protester, had this to snarl, "You can't exterminate one of us within the prison walls and expect us to lay down like a doormat!"
Groups of protesters, scattered across Nairobi's commercial district, here and there hurling rocks at law enforcement who responded with tear gas, and at least a couple of vehicles reduced to ashes. Rubber bullets wounded at least three individuals, with one critically hurt and taken to the medical facility.
The chaos was much calmer when compared to the 2022 uprisings, which reached a boiling point when mobs breached parliament, compelling the president to can the financially taxing bill. Over 60 demonstrators lost their lives during the riots in June and July 2022, and rights organizations alleged numerous illegal detentions by security forces following the protests.
Kenya is a significant player in the eastern African economy, but pockets of discontent have persisted due to ballooning everyday living costs and idle job market, along with human rights abuses.
To steer clear of the public ire, the government has emphasized tax hikes on businesses rather than consumers for this year's budget. Finance Minister John Mbadi acknowledged last year's riots emphasized the "importance of values and principles of governance." He advocated for a minute of silence in parliament for the victims who lost their lives in the protests.
However, there was public outrage last month after the arrest of a software developer who created her spewing website criticizing the budget and empowering citizens to lodge complaints with the government.
"This year's finance bill is downright trying to avoid a scandal compared to last year's," stated Patricia Rodrigues, a consultant at global firm Control Risks. But increases in income taxes and social contributions will pinch businesses, she cautioned. In a precarious global economy, the World Bank has scaled down its development projections for Kenya from 5.0 to 4.5 percent in 2025.
Human rights violations have become a volatile issue, with protester Anami Daudi Toure, 27, putting it bluntly, "We demand the resignation of the deputy inspector general, and then he should be handcuffed." A police watchdog reported that 20 individuals died in custody over the past four months.
© 2025 AFP
Note:
Enrichment Data was utilized to provide context, causes, demands, and possible future outlook of the protests in Kenya, enhancing the article.
- The unrest in Nairobi, sparked by police brutality and tax hikes, has highlighted the volatile issue of human rights violations in Africa's eastern commercial hub.
- The environment, both in terms of the physical environment and political climate, has been deeply affected by the street protests in Kenya, raising concerns about business sustainability and general news reports.
- The Africa region's economy and health, particularly in Kenya, are under strain due to the continued discontent over rising living costs, police abuses, and stagnant job market, which are all issues at the forefront of the recent street protests.
