insert_link Africa Kenya’s Court of Appeal Declares 2023 Finance Law Unconstitutional Kenya's Court of Appeal ruled on Wednesday that the government's 2023 finance law is unconstitutional, dealing a setback to President William Ruto's administration reports Reuters. This decision follows the government's withdrawal of this year's finance bill amid violent protests. Finance bills, introduced annually to parliament, outline the government's strategies for revenue generation, including tax increases and new levies. todayAugust 1, 2024 9
insert_link Africa Scattered anti-government protests in Kenya By Hillary Orinde Hundreds of protesters took to the streets across Kenyan towns on Tuesday in defiance of a police ban, the latest in a series of demonstrations that have rocked the East African nation. Activists led by young Gen-Z Kenyans launched peaceful rallies last month over steep tax increases but they spiralled into deadly violence, before morphing into wider anger against President William Ruto's government. […] todayJuly 23, 2024 11
insert_link Africa Kenya unrest: Ruto awakened class politics that now threatens to engulf him By Peter Lockwood, University of Manchester Many of the grievances of Kenya’s Gen-Z, young people who took to the streets in late June, have been palpable for years. I witnessed these during field research as a social anthropologist studying land, livelihoods, urbanisation and electoral politics in Kiambu County, which borders Nairobi to the north and west. I spent nearly two years there between 2017 […] todayJuly 4, 2024 31
insert_link Africa Kenya police say over 270 arrested for criminal acts during Tuesday protests Kenyan police said they have arrested more than 270 people masquerading as protesters who are suspected of going on a criminal rampage during anti-government rallies on Tuesday. Widespread looting and property damage was reported during the youth-led demonstrations in various cities across the country, which some protesters said had been infiltrated by "goons". "Security forces across the country singled out suspects found engaging in criminal activities in […] todayJuly 3, 2024 34
insert_link Africa Demonstrators in Kenya prepare to resume protests Protestors in Kenya are preparing to resume demonstrations despite President Ruto declining to sign the finance bill into law. They aim to 'occupy State House,' insisting only Ruto's resignation will satisfy them. Isabel Nakirya reports. Analysts said that while the finance bill initially triggered the protests, they have now expanded to reflect broad dissatisfaction with the government. Protesters in Nairobi told Al Jazeera they are demanding the president's resignation. […] todayJune 27, 2024 21
insert_link Africa Kenya protests: Ruto pulling the finance bill is unlikely to satisfy angry young protesters – here’s why By Kathleen Klaus, Uppsala University In a move that shocked observers, Kenya’s President William Ruto announced on 26 June he was withdrawing his government’s highly controversial finance bill. This followed two days in which tens of thousands of mostly young protesters took to the streets in nationwide rallies against the proposals contained in the country’s 2024 budget. Kathleen Klaus, who has studied […] todayJune 27, 2024 99
insert_link Africa Death toll rises in Kenya tax hike protests Protesters in Kenya have been shot dead and fires started inside parliament after politicians voted in favour of a controversial tax bill. The Kenya Medical Association said at least 13 people had been killed and dozens more injured. Following reports that Namibians were near Kenya’s Parliament at the time of the incident, we spoke to the Executive Director of the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, Penda Naanda. Kenya is […] todayJune 26, 2024 37
insert_link Africa What’s next after Kenya’s deadly protests? By Rose TROUP BUCHANAN, Simon VALMARY After an unprecedented day of chaos and deadly violence, Kenya finds itself plunged into uncertainty on Wednesday, with lawmakers due to vote this week on deeply unpopular tax hikes that have sparked widespread protests. How did East Africa's economic powerhouse get to this point and what happens now? Tuesday's national strike against proposed tax hikes began peacefully, with […] todayJune 26, 2024 14
insert_link Africa The rise of Africa’s Gen Zs: From TikTok, X to the streets By Conrad Onyango, bird story agency On June 18, 2024, thousands of young Kenyans took to the streets to oppose proposed tax reforms, marking a significant shift in the landscape of youth activism and advocacy in Africa. Within hours, a colourful image that captures the essence of a youthful crowd in trendy attire protesting on the streets of Nairobi was doing the rounds […] todayJune 21, 2024 31