Description: Kenyan Interior Minister, Kipchumba Murkomen issued a public statement accusing the protesters of trying to overthrow the government and stated that police crackdown on violence would continue in the upcoming period. The demonstrations took a violent turn due to police brutality in the country which subsequently caused sporadic fires, looting and violent confrontations between the protesters and the police forces. The youthful protests were held on the anniversary of last year’s civil crisis in Kenya over anti – tax legislature and the recent death of a young blogger held in police custody. Demonstrations were reported all across Kenya, with protesters calling for President Willam Ruto’s resignation citing reasons such as corruption, economic decline, police brutality and bad governance in general. In the interim, the government cut all television and internet access in the country, following the nationwide violence.
Impact: Civil upheaval in Kenya navigates the country towards a prolonged political crisis as police forces continue to confront violent demonstrators. Government forces continue to bog down refusing to engage the demonstrations in a civic manner through dialogue, concise political programs and systemic reforms. Currently the protests give no indication of declining in intensity further spreading nationwide with the government adopt violent repressive measure in order to suppress the movement. The civil crisis in Kenya is expected to endure potentially morphing into direct political confrontation with the incumbent government which would enlarge the crisis and significantly destabilize the country.