Kenya's Ruto ready for 'conversation' with youth protesters: presidency

Nairobi: Kenya's President William Ruto said he was ready for "a conversation" with thousands of young protesters who held nationwide demonstrations this week to oppose proposed tax increases, a presidency official said Sunday.

Organised on social media and led largely by Gen-Z Kenyans who have livestreamed the demonstrations, the protests have caught the government off-guard, as discontent mounts over Ruto's economic policies.

"Our young people have stepped forward to engage on the affairs of their country. They've done their democratic duty, to stand and be recognised. I'm proud of them," Ruto said in quotes shared by presidency spokesman Hussein Mohamed on X, formerly Twitter.

"We'll have a conversation with you to identify your issues and work together as a nation," he added, making his first public comments on the protests.

There was no immediate response from the protesters, who have called for a national strike on June 25.

Two people have died and dozens of others were injured in Thursday's demonstrations in the capital Nairobi, according to rights campaigners.

The demonstrations were mostly peaceful, but officers fired tear gas and water cannon throughout the day to disperse protesters near parliament.

According to a Kenya Human Rights Commission official, 21-year-old Evans Kiratu was "hit by a tear gas canister" during the protests and died in hospital.

On Friday, a police watchdog said it was investigating allegations that a 29-year-old man was shot by officers in Nairobi after the demonstrations.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) said it had "documented the death... allegedly as a result of police shooting" on Thursday.

Several organisations, including Amnesty International Kenya, said that at least 200 people were injured in Nairobi in Thursday's protests, which saw thousands of people take to the streets across the country.