Kenya police chief resigns after deadly protests: Presidency

Kenya’s police chief has resigned following sharp criticism over anti-government protests that left dozens of people dead, the presidency said Friday, the latest head to roll in the wake of the demonstrations.

President William Ruto has “accepted the resignation” of Japhet Koome, inspector general of the police, the presidency said in a statement released just one day after the Kenyan leader sacked most of his cabinet.

Organized online and led largely by young, Gen-Z Kenyans, the protests have plunged Ruto’s administration into the most serious crisis of his two-year presidency, forcing him to abandon proposed tax hikes as he scrambles to repair the damage.

On Thursday, Ruto dismissed all cabinet ministers including the attorney-general, with the exception of Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

But the move appeared to do little to appease young Kenyans, who warned that they would resume street protests unless Ruto himself steps down.

Initially peaceful, the protests sharply escalated when police fired at crowds who stormed parliament, ransacking the partly ablaze complex on June 25.

While large-scale street protests have subsided, anger against the government has not, particularly towards the police, with rights groups saying that 39 people were killed in the demonstrations.

Kenya has been struggling with a cost of living crisis, with Ruto’s administration pushing for higher taxes to increase revenues in a bid to reduce foreign debt, which is equivalent to roughly 70 percent of GDP.