Kenya protest: Police chief resigns

Kenya’s Inspector-General of Police, Japhet Koome, has resigned amidst growing backlash over the police’s handling of nationwide anti-government protests.

President William Ruto accepted Koome’s resignation, which comes after intense criticism and demands from demonstrators and rights groups.

A statement from the presidency on Friday confirmed that President Ruto has “accepted the resignation” of Koome, who has served as the police chief since November 2022. Deputy Inspector-General Douglas Kanja has been appointed as the acting police chief with immediate effect, signaling a swift transition in the leadership of Kenya’s police force.

The resignation follows a tumultuous period marked by widespread protests against the government, during which dozens of demonstrators were killed.

The protests were ignited by a deeply unpopular finance bill proposing significant tax increases, among other grievances. Kenya’s national rights watchdog reported that at least 39 people lost their lives during the demonstrations.

Criticism of the police’s conduct during the protests has been fierce, with accusations of excessive force, including the use of live ammunition against protesters.

A report highlighted the significance of Koome’s resignation, stating, “This is what these young protesters and many other Kenyans have been asking for. They were asking for the police chief to resign because of how he handled those protests.”

The police have been accused not just of deploying tear gas but also of firing live bullets, leading to numerous injuries and fatalities. “Some people are still in hospital because they were shot. Many others died because of the shooting,” Soi added.

In a bid to quell the unrest, President Ruto has taken several measures, including abandoning the controversial finance bill. On Thursday, he dismissed nearly his entire cabinet, sparing only Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. This move, however, has not fully appeased the discontented youth and other protesters.

The cabinet reshuffle is seen as an attempt by Ruto to placate the demonstrators, but it appears insufficient for those who feel betrayed by his unmet election promises of job creation and economic improvement. Hyrence Mwangi, a 25-year-old protester, voiced the lingering frustration, saying, “We will be back on the streets until Ruto goes. He has wasted two years in office travelling and telling lies.”

The protests, which initially began peacefully, escalated sharply when police opened fire on crowds storming parliament on June 25. The violent crackdown resulted in the ransacking and partial burning of the parliamentary complex. While the large-scale street protests have subsided, the anger and dissatisfaction with the government and police remain palpable.

Jackson Rotich, a 27-year-old protester, encapsulated the prevailing sentiment, stating, “When we first went to the streets, Ruto dismissed us as a bunch of hired goons and criminals, only to come later and start saying he will make changes.”