Hundreds of Kenyans Gather for Memorial Concert Following Deadly Protests
Hundreds of Kenyans gathered in Nairobi’s Uhuru Park on Sunday for a memorial concert to honor those who died in recent protests against proposed tax hikes.
The protests, led mainly by Gen-Z activists, turned violent and resulted in the deaths of 39 people, according to rights groups.
The protests led to President William Ruto scrapping the controversial finance bill and promising spending cuts to address the nation’s economic issues.
From around midday, people streamed into Uhuru Park to listen to performers and commemorate the deceased. Victor Waithaka, 29, attended to pay tribute to the “heroes who died during the protests on the rejected finance bill.” He added, “This is our country, and we have the right to fight for our rights.”
The concert coincided with “Saba Saba” (Seven Seven), the seventh day of the seventh month, a significant date marking the 1990 opposition uprising demanding the return of multi-party democracy. Demonstrations have historically taken place on this day.
Attendees chanted “Ruto must go” and waved Kenyan flags as they danced to music from various performers. Hanifa Adan, a prominent demonstrator, told AFP, “The fight has just begun, the political awakening [is] just the beginning.”
Earlier in the day, police officers blocked some city roads to maintain order.
On Friday, President Ruto announced budget cuts and increased borrowing to cover the shortfall from scrapping the finance bill.
He also engaged in a spirited exchange of views with younger Kenyans on social media platform X, addressing their concerns and discussing future steps for the country.
Source: Reuters
