Killing of Protesters: Kenya Police IG Resigns, Goes Into Hiding

Kenya’s police chief, Japhet Koome, has resigned following intense criticism over his handling of anti-government protests that left dozens dead.

The move comes as President William Ruto struggles to contain widespread public anger against his government.

Koome’s resignation was announced by the presidency, which stated that Ruto had “accepted the resignation” of the inspector general of police, effective immediately.

The decision is seen as a bid to placate protesters who have been demanding Koome’s removal over allegations of police brutality.

Our reporter also gathered that the Koome is currently in hiding, away from his Nairobi home, fearing possible attack from disgruntled protesters, who accuse him of ordering officers to fire live bullets as they marched on.

The protests, which began as peaceful demonstrations against proposed tax hikes, escalated into deadly violence when police fired at crowds who stormed parliament on June 25.

At least 39 people were killed in the demonstrations, according to rights groups.

Ruto has taken a series of measures to appease the protesters, including abandoning the finance bill that contained the unpopular tax increases.

On Tuesday, he dismissed almost his entire cabinet, except for the foreign minister and deputy president, in a bid to restore public trust.

However, the move has not entirely calmed the situation, with many young Kenyans remaining skeptical of Ruto’s commitment to reform. “We will be back on the streets until Ruto goes.

He has wasted two years in office traveling and telling lies,” said Hyrence Mwangi, a 25-year-old protester.

Analysts say Ruto faces a daunting task in forming a new cabinet that balances various vested interests while addressing public anger. “The challenge that Ruto now faces is forming a new cabinet that includes various vested interests, whilst simultaneously calming popular anger in the face of an explicitly leaderless movement,” said Gabrielle Lynch, a professor of comparative politics at the University of Warwick.

The crisis has also had economic implications, with Moody’s downgrading Kenya’s debt rating further into junk territory, warning of a negative outlook. This will make borrowing more expensive for the cash-strapped government, which is already grappling with massive foreign debt equivalent to roughly 70% of GDP.

As Kenya navigates this tumultuous period, Ruto has promised to engage in extensive consultations across different sectors and political formations to set up a broad-based government.

However, the outcome remains uncertain, with many Kenyans calling for more drastic reforms to address the country’s economic and political woes.

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