Sawt Falasteen - Kenya's Ruto ready for 'conversation' with youth protesters: presidency

Organised on social media and led largely by Gen-Z Kenyans who have livestreamed the demonstrations, the protests have caught the government off-guard, as discontent mounts over Ruto's economic policies.

"Our young people have stepped forward to engage on the affairs of their country. They've done their democratic duty, to stand and be recognised. I'm proud of them," Ruto said in quotes shared by presidency spokesman Hussein Mohamed on X, formerly Twitter.

"We'll have a conversation with you to identify your issues and work together as a nation," he added, making his first public comments on the protests.

There was no immediate response from the protesters, who have called for a national strike on June 25.

Two people have died and dozens of others were injured in Thursday's demonstrations in the capital Nairobi, according to rights campaigners.

The demonstrations were mostly peaceful, but officers fired tear gas and water cannon throughout the day to disperse protesters near parliament.

According to a Kenya Human Rights Commission official, 21-year-old Evans Kiratu was "hit by a tear gas canister" during the protests and died in hospital.

On Friday, a police watchdog said it was investigating allegations that a 29-year-old man was shot by officers in Nairobi after the demonstrations.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) said it had "documented the death... allegedly as a result of police shooting" on Thursday.

Several organisations, including Amnesty International Kenya, said that at least 200 people were injured in Nairobi in Thursday's protests, which saw thousands of people take to the streets across the country.

- Cash-strapped government -

Ruto's administration has defended the proposed levies as necessary for filling its coffers and cutting reliance on external borrowing.

Following smaller-scale demonstrations in Nairobi on Tuesday, the cash-strapped government agreed to roll back several tax hikes laid out in a new bill.

But Ruto's administration still intends to increase some taxes, defending the proposed levies as necessary for filling its coffers and cutting reliance on external borrowing.

The tax hikes will pile further pressure on Kenyans, with many already struggling to survive as the cost of living surges and well-paid jobs remain out of reach for young people.

"Tuesday 25th June: #OccupyParliament and Total Shutdown Kenya. A national strike," read a poster shared widely online, adding that "Gen Z are granting all hard working Kenyans a day off. Parents keep your children at home in solidarity."

After the government agreed to scrap levies on bread purchases, car ownership as well as financial and mobile services, the treasury warned of a 200-billion-shilling ($1.5-billion) shortfall.

The government has now targeted an increase in fuel prices and export taxes to fill the void left by the changes, a move critics say will make life more expensive in a country battling high inflation.

Kenya is one of the most dynamic economies in East Africa but a third of its 51.5 million people live in poverty.

H.Darwish--SF-PST