The anti-government protests began on June 18 after the Finance Bill was first made public through online activism by Gen Z on TikTok and X (formerly Twitter).
After several days of protests against what they perceived as punitive taxes in the Bill, Gen Z successfully pressured the government to withdraw the bill on June 26, and leading President William Ruto to sack his cabinet.
However, the Gen Z movement has vowed to sustain the pressure, with some members still pushing for the President’s resignation and others questioning his decision to spare the Prime Cabinet Secretary in his purge.
They are also demanding justice for those killed and injured during the protests and the reconstitution of the IEBC to recall Members of Parliament hence sparking a fresh round of the youth-led demonstrations.
Here’s a real-time update on latest events in the Tuesday, July 16 anti-government protests planned to take place across the country.
7:00pm: A protestor was shot dead at 12:00pm at Moi Avenue Nairobi, CBD.
5: 50 pm: A CCTV footage has shown Police officers storming Chosen Generation Church in Nakuru to remove protesters who had sought refuge there.
5: 21 pm: Two protestors have been injured as police in Kibwezi, Makueni County, struggle to contain a huge crowd of protestors.
4: 30 pm: A K24 Journalist Catherine Wanjeri Kariuki has been Shot by Police in Nakuru Country during the ongoing protests. She has been rushed to Valley Hospital.
3: 40 pm: Protestors display shell casing of live bullets allegedly used during the anti-government protests in Karatina, Nyeri County.
3: 33 pm: A woman is shot on her left leg outside Gilani Supermarket in Nakuru County.
3:14 pm: Protestors in Kericho, Baringo and Nyamira County storm their Governor’s office.
3: 03 pm: Police have blocked protesters marching towards Kisumu State Lodge.
Also Read: National Police IG Issues Statement as Protests Kick Off
2: 41pm: A protestor has been allegedly killed by Police officers in Kitengela, Kajiado County. Videos circulating online showed the angry demonstrators carrying the protester, who was shot in the head, to a different location.
Images seen by The Kenya Times showed the man lying down with blood oozing from his head.
2: 40 pm: A child has been shot in Nairobi CBD during the ongoing protests. The child was shot on his right leg before a group of men frantically rushed him to the hospital.
2: 20 pm: Anti-government protestors gather outside Nation Media Centre.
2: 15 pm: Protestors access Kisii town, barricade some roads with fire.
1: 50 pm: Ongoing looting at the National Oil petrol station in Kakamega County during anti-government protests.
1: 40 pm: Police engage anti-government protesters in running battles in Nairobi CBD.
1:33 pm: A protestor is injured in Nairobi CBD at Archives area before being rescued by a Red Cross ambulance.
1:32 pm: Police continue lobbing teargas towards the protestors in Nairobi and Mombasa County.
1: 24pm: Another protestor injured at Nakuru County.
1: 21pm: A Protester has narrowly escaped being abducted by unknown men along Moi Avenue after he overpowered them.
1:16 pm: Police clear road blocked by anti-government protesters in Mombasa.
12:26 pm: Public Service Vehicles (PSV) have cleared on most parts of CBD. Upper CBD Shops have opted to close down, as more teargas is being fired.
12:20 pm: Tear-gas canister is thrown near Mwiyala Primary school full of kids in Kakamega County. The pupils are heard crying and complaining that their eyes are itching.
Also Read: Interior Ministry to Declare Official Protest Zones
12:19 pm: Business owners in Nairobi have come out to protect their property, fearing looting that was witnessed in the past protests.
12:10 pm: Gen Zs have successfully overpowered the goons deployed to counter peaceful protestors in Kakamega.
12:00 pm: Protests begin in Nakuru, Kisii and Bungoma County.
11:57 am: Protestors in Kitengela block the Nairobi-Namanga road with rocks and boulders.
11:35 am: Protests have erupted in Kisumu, with frustrated youths blocking the Nairobi-Kisumu highway. Demonstrators, waving flags and dancing, have established a roadblock in the heart of Kisumu’s CBD to highlight their grievances.
Police have also closed roads leading to State House Lodge in Kisumu.
11:30 am: Police have lobbed tear gas in Nairobi CBD at Archives and Moi Avenue area to disperse protestors.
11:15 am: Protests begin in Mombasa County and Nairobi CBD. Hundreds of protestors in Mombasa have taken to Abdelnasser Road, marching through the coastal city’s CBD
10: 50 am: Traffic has come to a standstill along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway at the Mlolongo area, Athi River as anti-government protesters blocked the road and set it on fire.
Motorists are diverting to alternative routes while police have cordoned off the area to restore order. Most businesses in the vicinity remain closed.
10: 45 am: Heavy contingent of police patrolling streets of Eldoret, Nanyuki and Machakos County.
10: 30 am: A Police chopper is seen assessing the situation at Nairobi CBD.
10:15 am: Police officers and protestors engage each other in Kitengela. Police are lobbing teargas towards the protestors urging them not close the roads. The protestors in return are pelting of stones towards them.
10: 10 am: Anti-riot police have blocked all roads leading to State House Nairobi ahead of the planned nationwide protest.
10:00 am: Heavy police presence in Eldoret town, Uasin Gishu County. Police Landcruiser’s and lorries are parked along the roads.
9:30 am: Anti-government protests have erupted in Migori County and Kitengela, Kajiado County. In Kitengela, the protesters have paralyzed transport by occupying the main Nairobi -Namanga road.
Motorists have been forced to divert to pedestrian lanes due to the lack of alternative routes. The demonstrators can be seen carrying placards, and the sound of vuvuzelas has filled the air.
9: 08 am: Men armed with batons seen patrolling Kericho County ahead of the planned protests. Residents have alleged that they are hired goons.
9: 02 am: Most of the shops in Nairobi CBD have remained closed.
8:30 am: There are no protests along Thika Road, including the Ruiru area, approximately 20 kilometers from the CBD. Traffic is flowing smoothly ahead of the planned protests.
8:00am: KDF troops spotted at Nyayo Stadium.
7:25 am: Police Officers deployed around City Hall, the Supreme Court, and Parliament. There is a heavy police presence around Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) and contingents of anti-riot police stationed around the government premises.
7: 20 am: Several roads leading to the Parliament building have been closed, with motorists and pedestrians being turned away and forced to use alternative routes.
7: 19 am: A fire engine is stationed outside the Supreme Court.
7: 15 am: Empty streets and calm in Nairobi CBD ahead of the planned anti-government protests.
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