Kenyan police fire teargas, water cannons on anniversary of pro-democracy protests
Activists rally every year on July 7 to mark the date in 1990 when opponents of then-president Daniel Arap Moi launched a bid to transform the country into a multiparty democracy. The protest is called 'Saba Saba' ('seven seven' in Kiswahili) because of the date.
Authorities have ramped up police deployments in Nairobi since youth-led protests in June 2024 that initially focused on tax hikes but expanded to cover issues such as graft, police brutality and unexplained disappearances of government critics.
A Reuters witness saw police use teargas and water cannons on Monday to disperse crowds along a key artery in Nairobi as hundreds of demonstrators advanced, with some blowing whistles while they marched.
Police had earlier blocked major roads leading into Nairobi and heavily restricted vehicle traffic within the city, leaving streets deserted but for the demonstrators, who turned up on foot. Most schools and at least one shopping mall were shut in anticipation of possible trouble.
'We are not ready to go back (home) because who will fight for our rights? We will be here until evening,' said Francis Waswa, a construction worker.
Interior minister Kipchumba Murkomen, who last month described the protests as 'terrorism disguised as dissent', said on his X account on Sunday the government was committed to protecting life and property.
'Our security agencies are on high alert to deal decisively with criminals and other elements of ill intent who may seek to infiltrate peaceful processions to cause havoc, mayhem or destruction of property,' he said.
Unidentified people forced their way into the offices of the nonprofit Kenya Human Rights Commission on Sunday to stop a press conference ahead of Monday's protests.
At least one person, a board member, was injured, said Ernest Cornel, who works at the commission.
Police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The death of Albert Ojwang, a teacher and blogger, in police custody in June gave fresh impetus to public protests. The government-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights reported 19 deaths nationwide during demonstrations on June 25.
Prosecutors approved murder charges against six people, including three police officers, over Ojwang's death. All six suspects pleaded not guilty.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Maverick
a day ago
- Daily Maverick
Dozens protest in Malaysia against Trump nominee for US envoy
President Donald Trump last week named outspoken author and political commentator Adams as the White House's nominee for U.S. ambassador to Malaysia. Adams, a naturalised U.S. citizen originally from Australia, has cultivated a brash social media persona, using a macho, 'alpha male' branding to weigh in on cultural issues and appeal to an audience of mainly young men. But it is his posts harshly criticising Islam and showing support for Israel's military campaign in Gaza that has angered Muslims in Malaysia, triggering a rare protest against a foreign diplomatic appointment in the Southeast Asian country. The outcry comes at a critical time for Malaysia, which has until August 1 to reach a trade deal with Washington to avoid a steep 25% tariff imposed on its exports to the United States. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told reporters on Friday it was too early in the process to decide on Adams' appointment but his government would give the matter due consideration. 'At the same time, we will seek to protect the good relations between Malaysia and the United States,' Anwar said, according to a recording of his remarks provided by his office to Reuters. Demonstrators led by youth leaders from Anwar's ruling coalition submitted a memorandum of protest to the U.S. embassy in Kuala Lumpur asking for Trump to reconsider his nomination of Adams. The memorandum cited 'divisive rhetoric' used by Adams, and characterised his postings as insensitive towards Malaysia's multi-cultural society. Malaysia, which has a majority of mostly Muslim ethnic Malays alongside significant ethnic Chinese and ethnic Indian minorities, has long been a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause. 'An ambassador's task is to be the bridge between two countries and we don't want that person to be someone who destroys that bridge instead,' said Muhammad Izuan Ahmad Kasim, a member of Anwar's People's Justice Party. The embassy and Adams' office did not respond to requests for comment. The protestors also called on Malaysia's government to exercise its right under international norms to reject Adams' proposed appointment. Under the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations, host countries have discretion to accept or reject ambassadorial appointments without having to provide a reason. Government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil said on Tuesday the cabinet had not yet received any formal notice of Adams' appointment to Malaysia. Adams' nomination has not yet been approved, but he is widely expected to be confirmed by the Republican-held U.S. Senate.
Daily Maverick
a day ago
- Daily Maverick
Kremlin on new EU sanctions: Russia has built up a certain immunity to such measures
The package aims to lower the G7's price cap for buying Russian crude oil to $47.6 per barrel, diplomats told Reuters. Asked about the new EU measures, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described them as one-sided and illegal, saying they were in line with what he called Europe's 'consistently anti-Russian stance.' 'But at the same time, of course, we have already acquired a certain immunity from sanctions, we have adapted to life under sanctions,' Peskov told reporters. 'Of course, we will have to analyse the new package in order to minimise its consequences. But, in addition, each new sanctions package brings a negative effect for the countries that back it. This is a double-edged weapon,' Peskov said. Russian government and trading sources played down the impact of the new restrictions, doubting they would significantly disrupt Russian oil trade.
TimesLIVE
a day ago
- TimesLIVE
Economic uncertainty cannot be new norm, says Canada at G20
Major economies cannot allow uncertainty to become the new norm even though they face a novel world of growing trade restrictions and tariffs, Canada's finance minister said on Thursday. G20 finance ministers and central bankers meeting near Durban face a challenge to produce a final communique at a meeting overshadowed by Donald Trump's tariffs and in the absence of US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent. Canada's Francois-Philippe Champagne told Reuters he was cautiously optimistic a final communique would be agreed, but that the G20 of large developed and developing countries had in any case to send a clear message. "We cannot allow uncertainty to become the new certainty. Uncertainty is the word that came probably the most in the discussions today," he said at the end of the first day of the July 17-18 G20 meeting.
