NAIROBI, Kenya- Despite assurances from Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kindiki Kithure that Kenyans would be allowed to protest peacefully, reality has painted a different picture on Tuesday morning.
As early as 9am, police in Nairobi began lobbing teargas canisters at protesters who had barely started gathering.
The usually bustling city was transformed into a battlefield, with the acrid smell of teargas hanging heavy in the air and the echoes of cries for justice reverberating through the deserted streets.
In Nakuru and Eldoret, the scene was no different. Thousands of residents took to the streets.
They marched against the controversial Finance Bill 2024, a piece of legislation that many feel will only deepen their economic struggles.
The streets, typically filled with the vibrancy of everyday life, were now a sea of placards, raised fists, and voices united in a cry for change.
Back in Nairobi, the heart of the protest was a stark contrast to the emptiness around it.
Hundreds of protesters, mostly young, took over the streets.
Their chants and songs of defiance were met with the harsh reality of teargas and police batons.
Human Rights organizations and the Law Society of Kenya have condemned police for using excessive force to disrupt protestors.
Meanwhile, in Parliament, lawmakers were debating amendments to the very bill that had sparked such widespread outrage.
As they voted to remove some of the most contentious sections, the disconnect between the corridors of power and the streets of Kenya became painfully evident.
For many, it was too little, too late. The amendments are seen as a token gesture, insufficient to address the root causes of their suffering.
The protests are expected to swell as more people join the ranks of those already in the streets of Nairobi.
