International Media Reporting on Jambas
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DeepInYourMind
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Their Kenya office will raided by DCI. Tunajua kasongo
Eng'iti
Elder Lister
Leaders | Wrong direction
Photograph: IMAGO
Jul 3rd 2025|3 min read
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For the past two decades, if you searched a map of Africa for a country that was relatively stable politically and successful economically, one stood out: Kenya. Home to 57m people from 40 ethnic groups, the east African country has grown steadily and sustained a largely peaceful democracy. But now the picture is looking bleak. Kenyans are increasingly discontented and venting their anger in the streets. President William Ruto, elected in 2022 on a promise to improve the lives of ordinary Kenyans, has responded to demonstrations with brutality and censorship. A spiral of riot and repression is eroding civil liberties and may jeopardise economic reforms. Mr Ruto must change tack.
The latest ominous sign came on June 25th, when 19 people were killed and hundreds injured after police opened fire on protests. The government banned live television coverage of the mayhem, until a court intervened. The protesters were furious at the recent death of an opposition blogger in police custody; they were also marking the anniversary of anti-government demonstrations in 2024, during which at least 63 people were killed and many more arrested or abducted.
Kenyans’ fury reflects their country’s deeper problems. In contrast with the past, protesters are not divided along ethnic lines, but united by frustration over their poor living standards and their lack of opportunities. Last year’s demonstrations were named the “Gen Z” protests because they were led by young people outraged at a planned tax rise by a government that wastes money and creates too few jobs for them.
The official response to bloodshed last year was indifference. Following the latest killings, the interior minister has denounced what he calls a “coup attempt” by “criminal anarchists” and commended the police on their restraint. The more repressive the government grows, the more young Kenyans question its legitimacy. Their country, which once set a fine example to the rest of Africa, now offers a how-to guide on smothering dissent.
It could get worse. Unrest could grow more violent, and be met with more deadly force and more midnight abductions of government critics by hooded men wielding batons and handcuffs. (The police insist they are not to blame, but survivors say they were tortured and questioned about the protests.) Kenya has a reasonably solid judiciary, but such abuses undermine confidence in the rule of law and deter investment. Several global companies have already left or scaled back operations. Worse still, Mr Ruto’s inability to create a consensus could delay or derail much-needed economic reforms. After last year’s protests, he backed down and scrapped the plan to raise taxes. Yet the state needs more revenues if it is to do its job properly while reducing public debt and promoting growth.
The best way out of the spiral would be to take the protesters’ demands seriously. The government should rein in its security forces, ending the abductions of dissidents and prosecuting those responsible for killing protesters. It should make a visible effort to improve public services, while curbing corruption, state profligacy and ostentatious consumption by the political elite. Kenyans are likely to accept higher taxes only if they feel more confident that their hard-earned cash will not be stolen or squandered.
William Ruto is taking Kenya to a dangerous place
The president’s authoritarian instincts are propelling a spiral of violence
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Jul 3rd 2025|3 min read
Listen to this story
For the past two decades, if you searched a map of Africa for a country that was relatively stable politically and successful economically, one stood out: Kenya. Home to 57m people from 40 ethnic groups, the east African country has grown steadily and sustained a largely peaceful democracy. But now the picture is looking bleak. Kenyans are increasingly discontented and venting their anger in the streets. President William Ruto, elected in 2022 on a promise to improve the lives of ordinary Kenyans, has responded to demonstrations with brutality and censorship. A spiral of riot and repression is eroding civil liberties and may jeopardise economic reforms. Mr Ruto must change tack.
The latest ominous sign came on June 25th, when 19 people were killed and hundreds injured after police opened fire on protests. The government banned live television coverage of the mayhem, until a court intervened. The protesters were furious at the recent death of an opposition blogger in police custody; they were also marking the anniversary of anti-government demonstrations in 2024, during which at least 63 people were killed and many more arrested or abducted.
Kenyans’ fury reflects their country’s deeper problems. In contrast with the past, protesters are not divided along ethnic lines, but united by frustration over their poor living standards and their lack of opportunities. Last year’s demonstrations were named the “Gen Z” protests because they were led by young people outraged at a planned tax rise by a government that wastes money and creates too few jobs for them.
The official response to bloodshed last year was indifference. Following the latest killings, the interior minister has denounced what he calls a “coup attempt” by “criminal anarchists” and commended the police on their restraint. The more repressive the government grows, the more young Kenyans question its legitimacy. Their country, which once set a fine example to the rest of Africa, now offers a how-to guide on smothering dissent.
It could get worse. Unrest could grow more violent, and be met with more deadly force and more midnight abductions of government critics by hooded men wielding batons and handcuffs. (The police insist they are not to blame, but survivors say they were tortured and questioned about the protests.) Kenya has a reasonably solid judiciary, but such abuses undermine confidence in the rule of law and deter investment. Several global companies have already left or scaled back operations. Worse still, Mr Ruto’s inability to create a consensus could delay or derail much-needed economic reforms. After last year’s protests, he backed down and scrapped the plan to raise taxes. Yet the state needs more revenues if it is to do its job properly while reducing public debt and promoting growth.
The best way out of the spiral would be to take the protesters’ demands seriously. The government should rein in its security forces, ending the abductions of dissidents and prosecuting those responsible for killing protesters. It should make a visible effort to improve public services, while curbing corruption, state profligacy and ostentatious consumption by the political elite. Kenyans are likely to accept higher taxes only if they feel more confident that their hard-earned cash will not be stolen or squandered.
The elusive alternative
Given the damage to Mr Ruto’s reputation over the past three years, a less tainted successor would have a better chance of getting the reforms Kenya needs. So the president should not stand for re-election in 2027. Alas, he is unlikely to step aside. Kenya does not have a strong opposition candidate to challenge him. Unless one emerges, there is a grave risk that Mr Ruto will continue to take his country backwards
Young_Turk
Elder Lister
After reporting to his NIS bosses, @pop in and others wameambiwa watumie zile powepoint unaonanga kwaw X na zile funny # tags on those BOT accounts and sudo accounts.
Meanwhile, Ruto alienda kukopa loan ya kujenaga mega church statehouse.
WANTAM
Mututho Wa KK
Senior Lister
Wantam haiikuanzia na yeye.
DeepInYourMind
Elder Lister
I found it a bit surprising that even the globalists have abandoned him. It shows that things are going in a direction they hadn't anticipated and they have seen the numbers.
But that means one thing, they are grooming a globalist successor who's interest is to the foreign masters first, and Kenyans second.
As I keep saying, be careful, it's not just about removing someone, you could end up replacing them with someone even worse. It's about finding the real solutions to the problems that got the country here in the first place. A complete overhaul
But that means one thing, they are grooming a globalist successor who's interest is to the foreign masters first, and Kenyans second.
As I keep saying, be careful, it's not just about removing someone, you could end up replacing them with someone even worse. It's about finding the real solutions to the problems that got the country here in the first place. A complete overhaul
Jino
Lister
We all know they have settled for Mlevi One Mur-k00-men
Young_Turk
Elder Lister
Mwalimu-G
Elder Lister
Thanks
Kichwa Kibov
New Lister
Africa will never be free
Mongrel
Elder Lister
Wamunyoro Amelipa hao economist