The International League of Peoples’ Struggles (ILPS) condemned the Kenya reactionary state for violently dispersing protesters on June 25, which resulted in the brutal killing of 16 demonstrators and the wounding of 400 others. The protest marked the anniversary of the series of massive demonstrations launched the previous year against the destructive Finance Bill, escalating police violence, and state repression.
Recall that massive actions in 2024 pushed the Ruto regime to withdraw plans to impose heavy taxes dictated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that would further impoverish the Kenyan masses. To cunningly pass the taxes, parliament in Kenya approved them in parts over the past year.
Beyond Nairobi, Kenyans, mainly from the youth sector, launched actions in Mombasa, Kisii, and other cities. They carried Kenyan flags and shouted the calls “Ruto Must Go” and “Occupy Statehouse” (Ruto’s official residence as government leader). They also brought to the protests images of those who were killed by police last year during the demonstrations.
The Kenyans’ outrage toward the Ruto regime escalated following the death of Albert Ojwang, a teacher and blogger, who was killed while in police custody several weeks ago, prompting widespread condemnation and calls for justice. Police arrested Ojwang for criticizing a police official.
“On the first anniversary of the June 25 massive protests and Ruto government’s response of killings and violence, the Ruto government only proved its intensifying repression by unleashing more violence on the protesters,” ILPS Africa and West Asia Regional Committee stated.
The committee joined the call of the Kenyan people for justice and to hold the fascist regime accountable. They urged Kenyans to persist even more in the face of escalating repression. “It is only right to continue organizing the Kenyans and launching mass actions to advance the calls for national sovereignty and democratic rights,” the committee declared.
As shown by the massive demonstrations of the Kenyan people in 2024, ILPS believes growing actions can push the Ruto regime to roll back its rotten policies. “Long live the struggle of the Kenyan masses! Down with the US Puppet Ruto regime!” the ILPS Africa and West Asia Regional Committee declared.
