The Morning: A crisis in Kenya
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2025-07-14 12:56
Good morning. Here’s the latest news:
We have more below. But first, our correspondent in Nairobi explains recent violence in Kenya.
Protests in Kenya
In Kenya, widespread antigovernment protests have escalated into deadly unrest and a deepening political crisis. Thousands of people nationwide have demonstrated against corruption and police brutality — and clashed with the police. Last week, officers fired live rounds at them and arrested more than 500. At least 38 people were killed, including two children, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights said. Just a few weeks prior, police forces killed 16 people and injured over 400 others. For decades, Kenya has been a politically stable economic powerhouse, a democratic anchor in an increasingly tumultuous region. But now the government is cracking down: Authorities ordered broadcasters to stop covering the protests live and restricted internet access to the messaging app Telegram. President William Ruto said that protesters damaging businesses “should be shot in the leg.” Some rights groups and opposition leaders are now warning of an authoritarian turn in the East African nation. Below, we explain how the protests began — and what may happen next. Why are people protesting?Kenya’s protests are rooted in years of economic frustration, political disillusionment and growing anger at tough police tactics. People are angry that the economy has failed to deliver for most citizens. Youth unemployment is high, inflation erodes wages and many people can’t get basic services like health care. Kenyans don’t trust their institutions. President Ruto was elected in 2022, promising to fight corruption and represent the “hustler nation” — the ordinary Kenyans struggling to make a living. But many now see those promises as hollow. Instead of reforms, they see ballooning debt, bloated government spending and officials showing off their wealth. A minister has openly spoken about his expensive watches, shoes and suits. Ruto has worn red-soled Louboutin shoes.
What has happened?Unrest has been brewing for a few years. Here’s how we got here:
The government responded with force. Photographers even captured the moment a police officer shot in the head a man selling masks to protesters, killing him. What’s different now?Police brutality isn’t new in Kenya. But many activists and protesters say the disappearances and extrajudicial killings under Ruto remind them of the authoritarian 24-year rule of the country’s second president, Daniel arap Moi. (Ruto was a protégé of Moi’s.) Kenya’s Gen Z is organizing the protests and bringing new urgency to them. Young people are politically savvy, digitally connected and unwilling to accept repression and silence. Their leaderless movement — powered by hashtags, songs and catchphrases like “Ruto Must Go” — reflects a hunger for systemic change. Activists say they are determined to continue the protests until Ruto resigns, even as several top officials avow that protesters should be shot. With elections coming in 2027, the protest movement could shift Kenya’s political landscape — either toward dialogue and reform or toward further repression and instability. Read more about the protests here.
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