Kenya’s policy accountability crisis has exacerbated in recent months. Protests have increased as calls for the overthrow of President Ruto’s government grows louder. Last month, many media reports and non-governmental organisations, including Amnesty International Kenya, put the death toll from protests mainly in the capital of Nairobi at between five and sixteen. But why is there unrest and violence from both sides of protestors and security forces?
Historically, the people of the East African nation, particularly the youth, have continually risen up and hit the streets to speak against government policies and other activities deemed as corrupt. In June 2024, young Kenyan protestors took to the National Assembly in serious protest, eventually setting fire to the office of the National County Governor. This was in response to Kenya’s growing issues on police brutality, government corruption and the unchecked increase in taxes. That incident led to the death of about 60 people, though till date, the perpetrators have not been brought to book.
The anniversary of the June 25 protest this year ended with over 400 people being treated for varying degrees of injuries. The message from the protestors seems consistent: ‘The people of Kenya must have good governance’. In 2024, a financial Bill announced by President William Ruto caused a major uproar in the country. Though the purpose of the bill was to increase Kenya’s revenue by up to 302 billion Kenyan shillings; the largest revenue to be raised in all of Kenya’s history, the implementation of that bill meant a 16% increase in value added tax on widely used goods like bread, a 25% duty on cooking oil and a 16% increase in value added tax on services such as foreign exchange transactions, amongst others. Not only that, a charge on anti-environmentally friendly products invertedly meant higher cost in essential items, such as sanitary pads. These provisions of the bill meant a heavy burden on the poor and middle class citizens of Kenya. Majority of the public opposed the bill, and even after Ruto’s backdown and amendments to some parts of the original bill, protests arose due to a myriad of other issues aside the controversial Finance Bill.
Since 2022, when William Ruto came into office, Kenyans have remained dissatisfied with the government and its policies. The view of some remains that the president keeps up a certain image for the international world that avertedly hurts the common people of Kenya. In a bid to project Kenya as a stable economy, impositions are meted out on Kenyans. Again, there are complains on the berth that separates rich Kenyan politicians who are believed to be corrupt and the ordinary citizen.
A report released by Human Rights Watch in November 2024, showed an evidence of police brutality during the June 25 protests. Some leaders of the protests against the Finance Bill for instance, were reportedly abducted, tortured and even killed. The lack of accountability by the authorities on investigating and prosecuting police officers involved has been frowned upon worldwide. In June, 2025, the death of Kenyan blogger Albert Ojwang led to more public uproar, with many calling for the resignation of the Kenyan deputy police chief Eliud Lagat. Ojwang, who died whilst in police custody had been arrested from his village following a complaint filed by Lagat, accusing him of defamation on social media. His death which was initially attributed to self-inflicted wounds in a police statement was later retracted after autopsy findings showed that the blogger likely died from assault wounds. This new development has led to more police distrust and pressure alongst a promise of demonstrations from the public as they call for full transparency into Ojwang’s death.
The position of William Ruto suggests that he is willing to address protestors concerns and has also called for the retention of peace in Kenya. However, many Kenyans have expressed concern over the increase in taxes and resurrection of old ones, marking the President as ‘anti-people’. Kenya ranked 126th out of 180 countries measured for perception and prevalence of corruption by the Transparency International corruption rankings for 2023. In 2024, Kenya scored 32 points out of 100 on the Corruption Perceptions Index by Transparency International the second time the country’s corruption index has been on an all time high since 2022. Voice of America, in an April 2024 report mentioned that American businesses were also finding it difficult establishing themselves in Kenya due to the bribe seeking behaviour of top government officials. Recent corruption scandals from 2024, some involving senior government officials like former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua has positioned Ruto as a president who is unable to relay on his campaign promises, one being fighting aggressively against corruption.
Kenya’s current political unrest and the public’s fervent retaliation against government actions highlight the dept of the country’s accountability crisis. To restore trust and legitimacy, President Ruto and his administration must respond with meticulous strategy and transparent reforms. This includes intensifying anti-corruption efforts, revisiting national and financial policies with a citizen-centred lens and shifting from a rhetoric to visible action. The government’s credibility will hinge on its ability to demonstrate and not just declare that meaningful change is underway.
