The Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) is under heavy security as Kenyans prepare to return to the streets today in protest against the contentious Finance Bill 2024.
The protests, largely driven by discontent among Generation Z and other dissatisfied citizens with President William Ruto’s administration, are expected to continue throughout the week, with another major demonstration planned for Thursday.
Officers are stationed outside critical buildings, including the Parliament buildings and the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), preparing for the anticipated demonstrations.
Many businesses have opted to remain closed, and city roads, typically congested with traffic, are nearly empty, with only a few vehicles seen operating.
In a bid to reassure the public, President William Ruto addressed the nation on Sunday night, stating that the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) would not be deployed to the streets unless absolutely necessary. He emphasized that the police would be on hand to escort and protect peaceful demonstrators.
“The KDF will not be in the streets. They only come as a last resort. If the demonstrations are peaceful, I promise you the police will be there to protect the demonstrators,” Ruto stated.
However, Ruto also issued a stern warning that police would be on the lookout for any criminal elements attempting to infiltrate the protests to cause chaos or destroy property.
“While we support the right to peaceful protest, we will not tolerate any actions that threaten public safety or lead to the destruction of property,” he added.
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