Kenya’s youth revolution: How affinity for lies, arrogance and opulence of jet-setting Ruto stoked anger against him
The U-turn has exposed the gulf between the image of President William Ruto as the jet-setting global voice not just of Kenya but the wider continent, and the grinding realities his nation faces – weighed down by debt, corruption and security threats.
Who has authority in Haiti? Kenya police history of human rights abuses looms over Haiti mission
Ahead of the deployment, the International Committee of the Red Cross started reaching out to the PNH and the Kenyan police to convey its humanitarian concerns to the stakeholders. According to Marisela Silva Chau, head of the ICRC in Haiti, the PNH has been taking part in some meetings held by the HCT and a liaison cell created several months ago by the UN’s emergency aid coordination body, OCHA.
Kenya police peacekeepers land in Haiti finally amid concerns about how they will restore order as ‘nothing clearly established’
The roots of Haiti’s problems date back to colonial times. Although the Caribbean nation became the world’s first Black republic in 1804, it was forced to pay billions to France in order to secure its freedom. That debt crippled Haiti economically and – combined with decades of dictatorships, natural disasters, political and environmental mismanagement, a long US military occupation, and a debilitating US trade embargo – contributed to its recent turmoil.
Palpable tension in Nairobi, police clash with protesters in Kenya as military patrols streets
The leaderless movement began online with young people demanding that legislators reject the proposed tax hikes. It later morphed into calls for the president’s resignation after the bill was passed. On Tuesday, thousands of protesters stormed Kenya’s parliament, burning parts of the building and sending lawmakers fleeing. Police opened fire and at least 23 people were reportedly killed in the chaos.
Hope and fear hang in the air as newly arrived Kenyan police force prepares to face Haitian gangs
Expectations are high: Haitians are scared and tired of gangs that have pillaged their way through the capital of Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas, killing, raping and kidnapping thousands of people in recent years and leaving hundreds of thousands of others homeless and unemployed, which in turn has deepened poverty.
Accused of killing children for ‘asking for food, jobs and a listening ear’ Kenyan president caves in, dumps finance bill
At least 23 people – the number could be as high as 100 – were killed, the Kenya National Human Rights Commission said and police were accused of some shooting deaths. Chairperson Roseline Odede said 50 people were arrested.
Kenya president backs down on tax hikes after deadly unrest, but youth vow carry on
Vice President Rigathi Gachagua asked young people to call off the protests to avoid any further loss of life and destruction of property, and blamed the intelligence services for giving the government poor advice.
After youth burned sections of Kenyan parliament, the irate rioters battled police into wee hours of Wednesday
Opposition to the finance bill has united a large part of the country, with some explicitly rejecting the tribal divisions that have torn Kenya apart in the past. Some who had passionately supported Ruto felt betrayed.
Arrival of 400 Kenyan police officers in Haiti offers PM Conille respite as he vows to retake country from criminals
The gang wars have now displaced over half a million people and nearly five million are facing severe food insecurity. Armed groups, which now control most of the capital, have formed a broad alliance while carrying out widespread killings, ransom kidnappings and sexual violence.
Why irate Kenyan youth unleashed their economic frustrations on President Ruto, burned parliament
Young Kenyans have been organising on social media, organising peaceful street demonstrations meant to force authorities to drop this finance bill altogether. The protests started on June 18 after the bill was made public for the first time.
