What is behind the deadly mass protests in Nairobi, where could they lead? | DW News

Kenya's President William Ruto has condemned the storming of parliament as a threat to national security, and vowed to restore order. Thousands of demonstrators marched on the building in the capital Nairobi and several were shot dead during violent clashes with security forces.
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#kenya #nairobi #protest

[@AustineMiles22]

My support to all Kenyans citizens & my condolences to all the heroes who lost their life 🇰🇪🇳🇬

[@dacconowino7969]

thanks for your support Austine, its hard at the moment here in Kenya

[@AustineMiles22]

So proud of you Kenyans citizens 🇰🇪🇳🇬

[@ogechicharis3926]

I love the Kenyan people so fearless, bold and courageous. I am in support of the 🇰🇪 Kenyans

[@ARNSECURITY-wl4mj]

How ironical, an ICC alumni calling peaceful protesters criminals!!

[@frankievexx]

It is surprising

[@wambuamwikali]

I know right? A full fledged criminal calling people criminals!

[@DoohBee]

Kenyan police head for Haiti to tackle gang violence, home KDF deployed to to deal with local protesters everything is wrong

[@MirceaKitsune]

If by tackle gang violence you mean invade a foreign nation for its own good. Real shame they forgot to say "we bill bring democracy to Haiti" before those officers set off.

[@cageybee7221]

what were they expecting, raising taxes on already extremely poor people? you can't just take everything your people have from them and expect them not to return the favour.

[@badgyrl310]

That part 💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯

[@champagnepapa]

we're a lower middle income country. extremely poor is a stretch

[@حببتي.سوديا]

@@champagnepapaikr😂

[@agyemangdavid2632]

Africa now I respect 🙏 Kenya 🇰🇪

[@pietrojenkins6901]

Why?

[@miriamnabulime8461]

They have guts...weeeeee!!​@@pietrojenkins6901

[@81Earthangel]

They voted him in, they will kick him out. Simple logic, but kinda makes sense. Let’s hope this ends soon and Kenya sees better times.

[@DoohBee]

Ruto is the enemy of all kenyans most of us dint vote him in

[@vervetech9395]

Only if the rest of Africa had the courage Kenyans have

[@Angela-hm3xt]

We have to remember every country in Africa is different in the sense that the amount of pushback from the government is on different levels. I'm speaking as a Nigerian. The Western world has so much to lose by allowing Nigerian to govern itself. So they will help the government with everything it takes to make sure Nigerians citizens don't get what they deserve. Yes , Nigeria, my country is different and it's corrupt.

[@mahlulinyoni]

Specially zimbabwe

[@adamredwine774]

Those are some charismatic protestors. Damn.

[@hakim1138]

It comes from pain

[@ibexkev8055]

That lady has represented us well.

[@jakeholmannf]

Peace and prosperity to the people of Kenya.

[@MirceaKitsune]

Fun fact: If the French were more like Kenyans, they could have stopped Macron from raising the retirement age against the population's will an year ago. And we know the French are fierce protesters and what happened then... just that even that wasn't enough, Kenyans showed the French how it's really done.

[@Rollerblade7.]

Freedom to Kenya

[@mikebarton]

Ruto is a threat to national stability. Let's talk about fires in churches.

[@namirimujackie2454]

Ruto tried musevenism not knowing Kenyans are not Ugandans😂😂

[@Dr.fiddle]

If only Nigerian youths Watches news like I do, maybe soon we'll have a version of this in Nigeria and Africa at large. These politicians are bleeding us dry.

[@SpazzyMcGee1337]

Russia too.

[@ogechicharis3926]

Yep totally agree with you

[@caty863]

In my country, Rwanda, the executive makes the laws and the parliament signs them. Our "democracy" is so weird!

[@frayserken]

There is no democracy in Rwanda Rwandans tolorate nonsense why and how is kagame still the president

[@GreenSpace314]

😂 Kagame is the Law

[@nguyenlamanh2919]

Rwanda is one of the best African countries though.

[@jamesgreat5263]

Well maybe I don't understand well but in Rwanda we have tax almost on everything whether bread or oil even land a lot I have seen are like 3% to even 0.3%. and I understand 16% is very much a lot when they are a lot people unemployed and struggling people in countryside it's really not fair. In Rwanda there is tax exempt on few things like study and healthy material but I can say it's somehow balanced

[@vincentmatenga9293]

It's the same in Kenya MPs are bribed and threatened

[@MiSt3300]

Funny to see this a day after Kenya sent its own police / soldiers to calm down the situation in Haiti... So ironic that they can't even keep their own country in peace

[@Loveabounds.]

We were completely fine until he started increasing taxes

[@varoonnone7159]

Haiti is a cesspool, that's not the case of Kenya

[@AmonTheWitch]

​@@Loveabounds. do you know what taxes are being increased?

[@pietrojenkins6901]

@@varoonnone7159 and you're right.

[@Kevin-vc3jf]

the comparison is not really a good one.. haiti is a failed state ruled by gangs and kenya is a working democracy as you can see the people are exercising their rights to protest, the government is using its authority and monopoly on power to impose its will. thats how it goes no matter how chaotic it is.

[@ATOM-i6h]

i can see myself in the video am proud to be a kenyan

[@adolfninh23]

Kenya people speak English well, they can curse the government in English while being anger

[@bella-qz6ls]

😂😂😂😂

[@technologistbonface7694]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@jamesgreat5263]

Wtf? What did you expect it's their langauge

[@adolfninh23]

@@jamesgreat5263Lol actually I knew that. But I didn't see Hongkong protestors speak English like that though they were both British colonies

[@KiguruNganga-g9r]

@@adolfninh23 We probably speak better English than the average Briton lol.

[@ZoomZoomMX3]

Publish all government spending showing where the money comes from and goes

[@BruceJ999]

​@@Takeawayking971China has the most developed infrastructure and free health care,why would they complain. Unlike in the US with no free Healthcare 😂😂

[@pietrojenkins6901]

No you can't do that. Some security spending is always classified and not for public consumption.

[@nvmtt]

@@pietrojenkins6901 yeah, the country looks very secure to me lol

[@Rhenadhis]

Edith just a correction there, last year Ruto did not INCREASE the housing levy, he INTRODUCED it and that he did against the advice of the private sector and the wishes of the Kenyan people

[@karee4476]

Edith Kimani, loved listening to you represent us. Very well spoken. As well as the reporter on the ground. Keep soaring

[@saviomlelwa]

Kenyans are so strong and so conscious. Kenya will be a beautiful country in the near future

[@u.janvier2548]

I fully support and agree with protesters. If the government can't do the right thing, then Kenyans must stand up and do it themselves. If one was to run after corruption, he or she can collect more than needed for deficity. Any MP who voted for the bill must be punished.

[@noeldizon827]

As long as greed and anger reign in the world ,there will be no everlasting peace.

[@TilmanBaumann]

The amount of gunfire is shocking. This isn't just protest and law and order.

[@jamesnganga6387]

we still fighting till the end no joke🙌🙌🙌🙌🇰🇪

[@likanari]

My issue as a kenyan is not the current debt we owe world bank and china, that must be settled because it was meant for development which spurred growth of the Kenyan Economy especially during previous regime of H.E Uhuru Kenyatta. My concern is on the recurrent expenditure that the current government has allocated itself, this should be reduced drastically,to live within our means. Kenyans are angered by unnecessary expenditure

[@michaelpolicarpo5291]

Underground tunnels? Sounds a lot the same as Israel🤔does all leaders need places to hide🫣💩

[@manasseskamau5327]

Yes, they do! As the criminals they need a place to hide from the electorate.

[@dejavujon]

The tunnel was actually built very recently its like they had intelligence people may revolt and come for them in the parliament

[@muzammilm.nurdin3349]

The whole world love watching political instability in Africa. Knowing that they will stay as developing nations forever and do all the labor work for developed countries.

[@veredasveredas9094]

Great reaction and corage people of kenia. Respect for the fighters that had fall on combat.

[@ZoomZoomMX3]

This video has done nothing to explain what the protest is exactly for or against. What exactly are the new taxes. How much are they? Give information so much keep listing what was broken and whatever government officials did to escape the destruction. What exactly are the numbers?

[@ZoomZoomMX3]

Is it a beer tax?

[@wenbo595]

Yyyou want real news?

[@nenasiek]

They did 1:32 to 1:47

[@emmanuelbecool]

the problem is IMF is the one involve in the tax drive so as to give Kenya money and inflate the economy ,its too high and the collected tax ends up in Ruto and his friends personal accounts , they will loot it all corruption is rampant and in Kenya we are rising up and corrupt leaders are scared

[@mauriceshilabula4574]

We sleeping... we will be back tomorrow. all i can say to the international communityis that ruto is a malignant narcissist. he should never be trusted. ICC should come for their client. he used to manage chicken... he wants to treat us as such

[@samuellopesbaule5745]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@gracewanjiru7915]

😂😂😂he thinks we are chicken? I ve made my day .is sio kuku

[@ignatiusobado]

Any kenyan here?Hatutasimamam maovu yakitawala

[@willhudson5625]

Brave youth

[@galaxiedance3135]

If they don't stand up to government... the government will get worse and worse !! They have to do this. They're destroying their citizens lives!

[@Naynayhey]

This is the work people do when there's no work to do in the country.

[@BePatient888]

The cost of living is staggering for a large amount of the population and their answer is to raise revenues on said people. I wonder if the tax code is enforced ethically, where those who make and spend more are taxed higher than those who spend and make less? Cut spending to and use more of the budget towards public services and infrastructure than they are currently allocating. I speculate that most of the tax money is benefitting a small upper class.

[@DumbaYassin]

Thank you Kenyan for fightings for your freedom

[@mikelantern148]

GHana should take note!

[@sapphosplace]

This isn't corruption-driven, this is honestly just bad luck. Kenya wouldn't be where it is now if COVID had never happened, or if interest rates post-COVID hadn't climbed/post-COVID inflation-driven currency depreciation hadn't climbed, or had Kenya had had better access to more advantageous borrowing options. The fact that Kenya's economy is still growing at like 5% and yet the country still can't outpace interest rate hikes is something a country like the US just never has to think about. Our government gets sad when we have to pay 3% interest rates on debt while Kenya's paying 10% on new bonds that it takes out just to avoid default on older bonds that were at 7%. The entire problem would go away overnight if Kenya was paying the kinds of interest rates that the US pays.

[@caty863]

and why do you borrow at such high interest rates?

[@mightyseashell]

your ignorance is compelling, as a Kenyan and protestor I want to tell you that the issue is not debt, Kenya generates a lot of money through the gvt, they were able to pay off the Eurobond on 24th without implementing this bill. We are mad because we can see that there has been no development in the last 2 years this man has been in power and now he was to raise taxes and introduce nonsensical taxes like tax on cancer treatment, defunding university education, taxing side-hustles and also putting in place an unemployment tax and tax on owning a car. we are mad because already making money is hard enough due to terrible leadership and then the guy rents a 200 million jet and wears a belt that's half a million then comes to tell us that there is no money for anything that's why the bill was created. Kindly do your research and listen to actual citizens since that man called us criminals for peaceful demonstration

[@sapphosplace]

​@@mightyseashellno, Kenya had to sell another bond to pay that bond, for which it now pays an additional 3% interest. Kenya's inability to pay it's debt has been a concern well back into 2023 and has led to decreasing credit ratings. The only way Kenya was going to pay off that debt otherwise was going to be by tapping into a dwindling pile of reserves, and Kenya only has so much longer that it can do that before Kenya is in a situation where it's credit-worthiness must be assessed without being able to account for reserves as a backup. Kenya's credit rating will get downgraded again at that point and it will lose critical financing support when that occurs. Morover, fears that Kenya was going to use reserves to pay for the bond were generating substantial currency depreciations. The shilling rose 9% in value just days of finding a bond option. You call me ignorant, but the international world has been talking about this for a long time. It's not MY opinion that Kenya is struggling to pay off debt due to increased debt servicing costs; that is the verbatim opinion of the agency that downgraded Kenya's credit rating in July of 2023.

[@mightyseashell]

​@@sapphosplace I do respect that you did research for this, but the same way I can read an article about another country and believe it because I am not part of that country and I have been provided an answer to my question I would feel like I fully understand the situation but not really. Unless you are a victim of these situations you won't understand the depth of it. Most articles written about Kenya's economy along the protests are not majorly done by Kenyans they are done internationally which may lead to loss of the deep level of empathy towards the citizens. We know that internationally we are just a number but to us we are people. People who have seen mismanagement of funds, corruption in plain sight. Money collected is not the money given to pay debt fully we aren't mad because we have to pay taxes, we are mad because the breakdown of taxes collected was just inconsiderate and purely meant to build more wealth for leaders while robbing citizens. We are not a violent country hence to see violent protests is a stronger message than a declining economy.

[@mightyseashell]

plus the same IMF that was pushing for the passing of the bill is now saying that they supports the protestors, why wouldn't it stand its ground for the sake of the economy? The issue is much deeper than articles about Kenya's economy it's the blatant disregard for Kenyan and African lives, to many we are just a documentary of people who can't be saved and us protesting is seeing that nobody will save us. We all coexist with all levels of social class but it doesn't mean that we deserve to treat the middle and lower classes with discontent by over taxation. There is a lot more that goes into an economy aside from capital flow.

[@SunisaSeeson]

❤🎉Hank you for picking

[@martinkaimuri]

He's killing us

[@sooraj1104]

What's the local language of Kenya? Do they all know English?

[@harrywatkins8194]

Swahili is commonly spoken nationwide, but there are many other languages at a local level. Many speak English fluently, especially if they are professionals/educated.

[@kingmatolo8381]

we have 2 national languages - English and Swahili. Most subjects in schools are taught in English. Many of us are fluent in English.

[@kimaninjoroge8661]

English and Swahili are our national languages. Everyone you saw in those streets understands and speaks English.

[@kimaninjoroge8661]

@@harrywatkins8194 English is taught from Kindergarten level in Kenya, one need not be a professional to speak it. FYI.

[@eddyahuta1649]

​@@kingmatolo8381 Swahili is the national language. But English is an official language.

[@h.a.k7]

brave people

[@KK-ol9ie]

Did I just see some possibly injured victim on the ground left suffocating under a tear gas canister while the one next to him successfully fled? 😭😭

[@djnickymosh7867]

That was a Kenyan flag ...he had only one mission... reject the bill

[@bethmwania1690]

I just flew out of the country, and i find this clip,,outrageously strange,,😊

[@benisonchacko8590]

US to blame

[@t-rex4211]

Ruto been getting cosy with Biden recently….

[@jedi10101]

Kenya’s loan payments to the Export-Import Bank of China is a key driver of debt servicing expenditures accounting for a quarter of total external loan repayments. Ruto is looking for another lender.

[@jedi10101]

Kenya has been struggling with ballooning public debt, with $6 billion owed to Chinese creditors. Some of the loans will mature in the 2023/2024 fiscal year, putting further pressure on the government. It’s not clear if President Ruto and his delegation will be granted a restructuring or extension of the interest payments. The Ruto administration pivoted quite violently away from China and back towards the West but has been so far been diligent in paying its Chinese loans and therefore will be leveraging its track record as it seeks concessions.

[@MarkKofiNketsiah]

the president is talking none sense like Ghanaian president

[@kimaninjoroge8661]

At 0.09, she almost confused us with the Jan 6ers..march on tha Capital Building😂😂

[@WANYONAMARANGETILLP]

The word FEAR does not exist in our vocabulary. The president is our employee, he works for us. We fought a good fight and won!

[@lascannon]

Maybe you shouldn’t have gotten into the debt trap with China then.

[@GraceMusyoka]

Kenya's debt trap is with the West. Under the US and UK. IMF and World Bank. Get your facts right

[@mightyseashell]

you really thought you ate that up

[@frayserken]

Be a grown up before you comment you wanted us to get a debt from your country nonsense!

[@kabzaify]

China is not the problem, those are investment lead debt. The problem is the IMF, Euro ponds and others

[@JohnScorps-ut3cc]

Naah men china ain't the problem, the problem is the USA, EU and their crappy organisations such as the IMF and world bank

[@hugoklopper8654]

Corruption will be the downfall of all African nations.

[@bella-qz6ls]

Unfortunately ur right

[@festusongaga9560]

We are KENYANS 🇰🇪🇰🇪 FEARLESS ✨

[@jedi10101]

Kenya has been struggling with ballooning public debt, with $6 billion owed to Chinese creditors. Some of the loans will mature in the 2023/2024 fiscal year, putting further pressure on the government. It’s not clear if President Ruto and his delegation will be granted a restructuring or extension of the interest payments. The Ruto administration pivoted quite violently away from China and back towards the West but has been so far been diligent in paying its Chinese loans and therefore will be leveraging its track record as it seeks concessions.

[@bcatbb2896]

Give it a bit more time and the government will roll the tax back At this current cost of living, the tax will starve the folks there

[@morrisonreed1]

So is that security mission to Haiti on hold ?

[@mopalm2759]

No 400 criminals left yesterday for Haiti 😂

[@vladnickul]

how long till? "meet new boss exactly like old boss?"

[@BansheeNT-D]

CSI Miami and the Mustard is behind this!

[@ErickNjoroge-fn4ob]

Africa lets be united ,kenyan am i

[@EzraTeter]

The protesters are doing the correct thing. They definitely shouldn't be sending troops to Haiti.

[@sufianahmat5334]

In UK, spending cut only create more pressure on people, in Kenya they ask to do a cut on spending instead of a tax hike. I say a bit of tax won't hurt if it's people still have to better welfare and benefit

[@kingmatolo8381]

They increased taxes last year, there was opposition from the public but the government ignored the people. They were trying to do the same thing again, already taxes are high. Increasing it again would just make it even harder for Kenya citizens. They are planning to increase tax on almost everything food, property, manufacturing, money transfers, even medical treatments. That means cost for treating diseases like cancer would go up. Price for bread, tea, milk, sanitary pads, diapers, etc would increase too. In the last few years we've had multiple manufacturers relocating to other countries or outsourcing to china because cost of production is very high. They pay taxes on raw ingredients, final products among other taxes

[@chriswamahiu8751]

Of course, government spending is a multiplier to the GDP of an economy. The problem with economies like ours is the loss of government finances due to corruption and graft

[@davismbae857]

The major difference is that corruption is higher in Africa.

[@JerseyPigment]

Don't be ignorant!

[@Whocares610]

Unfortunately if people want health car, welfare, and other essential services, those get funded by taxes.

[@faithkerubo8357]

The problem isn't paying taxes...the problem is...we don't see the value for our taxes...we only see our politicians getting richer and public funds being misused

[@nvmtt]

lmao. people want basic things like bread and sugar. they are not even on the same level as welfare and healthcare. you dont need medicine if you cant eat in the first place.

[@samuellopesbaule5745]

​@faithkerubo8357 and looting, more looting, exempting taxes to foreign companies and President Ruto spending the money flying to Western countries to misuse those taxes!

[@BrianSHIFU27]

not when the taxes are wasted on presidents wife, dp wife, cabinet ministers etc. then they flaunt their wealth to the same people. please next time be educated on the subject matter before just exposing your ignorance on a yt comment.

[@gershomkoinei8256]

What 👆🏾 she said... We don't pay taxes so that our elected public officials can take their children to private schools in Europe...

[@SamMensahn]

Why are you not making mention of the lives that got lost, but talking about a mere police vehicle? You are a pure government journalist

[@barbie953]

Viva !!! 🇰🇪🇰🇪

[@nyanchamapauline5971]

Viva la Vida.... Hivyo ndo kunaendanga.... Ama Viva la Vida Death and all its friends

[@bobman929]

Dont tell us what the tax hikes are or nothing. Useless media

[@kajikaone]

In case anyone doubted Kenyans they should know the Mau Mau uprising made the British colonial rule come to an end. We are sons and daughters of freedom fighters and warrior blood runs through our veins

[@genesiajames3293]

If everything closes for a year Ruto you have lost your country for life

[@jungletunes3923]

Is that the country that got blessing from Biden?

[@ellachimbiru1950]

🤣🤣🤣 and made Kenya a none NATO ally.

[@badgyrl310]

Yep

[@manasseskamau5327]

Yes, because we don't sit back and watch the government sabotage our lives with exorbitant lifestyles.

[@trendinggossip8692]

Yes its us😂😂. Apparently, ruto is the only one who benefited from the blessings

[@lamechonsomu3216]

AFRICANS OPEN YOUR EYES..WE KENYANS HAVE SHOWN U THE WAY

[@kitony]

Kumbe Edith yuko sawa

[@spinebuster9490]

4:06 _Good. These officials are the ones who are supposed to run, not the Kenyans_

[@holohala2724]

I bet they wish too.

[@AnthonyTolhurst-dw1nc]

Worldwide poverty and angst . . .

[@genesiajames3293]

Keep fighting

[@demromwenda9819]

Proud of my country kenya .we wont allow these imposters to return us to the dark days .

[@yanduspandus]

She is too joly and out of touch as usual for this type of news

[@jedi10101]

corrupt politicians & chinese debt trap

[@ronodenis1]

Ruto must go!

[@genesiajames3293]

From the french

[@bethmwania1690]

There's nothing that mesmerises me abt a mystery, that is yet to be unveiled,,u know some things just happen,,?😮

[@bruceburns1672]

What's going "Down in Da Hood".

[@TheRubberStudiosASMR]

Business as usual

[@ZAGIDI]

If you have sellout and incompetent leadership and politicians whose policies are determined by the scrupulous and no good IMF, World Bank and the West, this is what happens. This is the case for SubSaharan Africa. Those leaders have no shame and highly corrupt.

[@winslauschitechi983]

Mps can't be walking around with millions of money yet the majority of citizens barely Can afford to get three meals a day

[@twinamatsikobosco2898]

But some times president is supposed to decide with the congregation not personally

[@onthemove6031]

Ufala ndio hatupendi.

[@olorin4317]

Certainly no foreign influence inflaming the discontent on social media. Who would do such a thing? And right after they sent police to help another democracy. Nothing curious about this at alllll.

[@genesiajames3293]

You Ruto leave

[@winnebahospital6816]

this reporter is biased

[@MaaDii-iz3ur]

Hey sing with me ,ruto must goo!!!!

[@caribbeanman]

Why some are dressed for winter and some are dressed for the beach?

[@longatsos]

It is cold at the moment. With small bursts of mildly warm sunshine. I guess it's the adrenaline that's making them feel hot

[@bantuvoicemuchaik.k.7715]

We are doing between 10degrees celcious 23 degrees celcious

[@JohnScorps-ut3cc]

That's just how we roll😊

[@marcieuzomah]

I’ve been in East Africa from the USA 🇺🇸 since January. In some cities , especially places like Kampala, I noticed there is no dress code like in the west, so you just wear whatever. It’s pretty 😎 if you ask me. Lol😂

[@winfridahochoki9981]

Our weather is nice you just dress as you Want .

[@wambuamwikali]

Tax and steal, that’s the motto of ruto and his goons.

[@DebbyJs]

this is what will happen in Nigeria on the 1st

[@jerrellholder8382]

His masters in usa told him raise taxes

[@jedi10101]

Kenya’s loan payments to the Export-Import Bank of China is a key driver of debt servicing expenditures accounting for a quarter of total external loan repayments. Ruto is looking for another lender.

[@wesearch_ke2365]

While qllovating a billion to his wife? It's not about the loan ,but poor spending, how can he tax unemployed people kes 300 per month?​@@jedi10101

[@JelloShots-wg6tz]

Mostly peaceful protests in their home continent

[@LocalCryptidGhostdoll]

Very America-pilled

[@soupwithfriends]

kenya should stay out of haiti