Kenya’s police chief, Japhet Koome, has resigned following weeks of violent protests against proposed tax hikes that resulted in the deaths of more than 40 people. Human rights groups have accused the police of fatally shooting dozens of protestors and abducting or arbitrarily arresting hundreds more.
The resignation of Koome comes a day after President William Ruto dismissed most of his cabinet under pressure from the protest movement, which has been largely coordinated online by young Kenyans. Deputy police chief Douglas Kanja will take over the police force immediately, according to a statement from the Kenyan presidency.
Two weeks ago, protestors stormed the parliament shortly after legislators passed the controversial finance bill. The police responded by opening fire on demonstrators in the streets. Despite President Ruto later withdrawing the bill, demonstrators have continued to call for his resignation and are planning further protests to demand additional reforms.
While Koome’s resignation has been welcomed by many Kenyans, the police officers who were caught on film firing at protestors remain at large. Last week, during an unprecedented discussion on X (formerly Twitter), President Ruto promised to take action against those officers once he received video evidence. It remains unclear whether any such evidence has been provided.
The crisis deepened on Friday when at least 11 dead bodies, some dismembered, were found at a rubbish tip in Nairobi after residents raised the alarm. Authorities have not yet determined whether these deaths are connected to the protests.
President Under Pressure
Facing the biggest crisis of his two-year presidency, President Ruto met opposition leader Raila Odinga earlier this week and announced plans to form a 150-member dialogue panel to help find a solution to the country’s problems. Following the dismissal of key cabinet members on Thursday, including the attorney-general, the president pledged to consult widely to establish a broad-based government.
The proposed tax measures were intended to help ease Kenya’s debt burden, which exceeds $80 billion (£63 billion). Approximately 60% of Kenya’s collected revenues are allocated to servicing this debt. However, protesters have argued that the government should first cut spending, citing waste and corruption. In response, the presidency announced several austerity measures last week.
The situation in Kenya remains tense as the public continues to demand accountability and substantial reforms to address both economic and governance issues.
