Fresh 'maandamano' threat fuels anxiety

A palpable sense of panic has gripped the government’s top brass ahead of renewed youth-led protests scheduled for Tuesday this week.

 As the country prepares for a potential nationwide shutdown, the government’s response has shifted into a high-stakes defensive posture.

 Reeling from the spectre of repeat violent protests witnessed over the past two years, the government has, in recent days, implemented pre-emptive measures such as halving VAT on fuel and deploying additional police officers to guard critical installations against the looming demonstrations.

 President William Ruto and his Deputy, Kithure Kindiki, have advised against what they term the “ineffective” nature of protests, urging a more pragmatic approach to addressing public concerns such as high fuel prices and the rising cost of living. However, the rapid, coordinated response points to a government eager to forestall a repeat of the 2024 demonstrations that crippled the country.

 This comes as pundits argue that the current state of affairs reflects the Head of State’s alleged “wastage of a good crisis” during the anti-government protests of 2024, and his subsequent failure to implement meaningful policy reforms addressing public grievances.

 The government’s first pre-emptive move came with an announcement by President Ruto on April 15 that his administration had resolved to reduce VAT on fuel from 16 per cent to 8 per cent for the next three months, in a bid to cushion Kenyans from rising fuel costs.

 A Bill was later introduced in Parliament and, after being passed in record time—within an hour—the President assented to it.

 Ruto’s actions, however, appeared aimed at calming growing public disquiet following an upward revision of fuel prices by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) hours earlier.

 The regulator had increased the price of super petrol by Sh28.69 per litre and diesel by Sh40.30 per litre. Following the President’s intervention, prices were reduced by Sh9 for super petrol and Sh10 for diesel.

 This unfolded against the backdrop of an announcement by youth groups, under the Gen Z banner, that they would stage protests beginning this Tuesday until their grievances are addressed.

 Online, young people are mobilising under various hashtags, calling for mass action to reject the fuel price increases.

 Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, led united opposition to issue President Ruto with a seven-day ultimatum to reduce fuel prices, suspend the road maintenance and affordable housing levies, and halt National Social Security Fund (NSSF) deductions, failing which they would take to the streets.

 Their grievances also include the high cost of living, alleged corruption within government, and unfulfilled presidential promises.

 “We unequivocally demand the cancellation of the Government-to-Government petroleum framework as it involves handpicked oil companies that represent the interests of the President,” stated Gachagua during a press briefing.

 Separate briefings

 The second sign of government anxiety emerged on Friday, April 17, when two top police bosses separately warned the public against the impending protests, terming them illegal.

 However, the decision by Nairobi Police boss Issa Mohamud to hold a separate press briefing at 10am, followed by another by the Inspector General of Police at 7pm the same day, fuelled perceptions of disarray within the State’s security apparatus.

 In both briefings, the officials addressed the same issue—planned protests over fuel prices on April 21, 2026—and insisted they had not received formal notification.

 “I have not received any notification for that, and if I have not received anything, it becomes illegal. We will deal with it because the law must be followed,” said ]Mohamud.

 He added: “We operate strictly within the law, guided by the Public Order Act and the Constitution, which guarantees the right to assemble, demonstrate, present petitions peacefully and unarmed.”

 Mohamud, however, clarified that the police do not grant or oppose demonstrations but facilitate lawful assemblies to ensure citizens exercise their constitutional rights safely and without interference.

 The police address came hours after UDA Secretary-General Hassan Omar condemned the planned protests.

 “We are concerned that one person wakes up every morning, picks on a subject matter, maligns one person after another, and thinks he can get away with it because there is a community or some people he appeals to, and then calls them to the streets. He is asking for mass action over an international fuel crisis,” Mr Omar said.

 “He (Gachagua) should not try to put Kenyans on the streets to destroy and loot property,” he added.

 Another briefing by Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli called on Kenyans to ignore the planned opposition-led protests over rising fuel prices.

 Yesterday, Atwoli opposed the forthcoming protests.  “It is politics that builds or destroys a country. If this country goes down, it is workers, women, and children who suffer the most. As workers, we cannot stand aside while politics seeks to destroy the stability that protects employment,” he said.

 “Every time you hear a politician calling for protest, we as workers must ask ourselves how this helps us, because we cannot go on protest over issues that are beyond the control of the Government of Kenya.”

 Atwoli urged the political class not to push the country into instability and anarchy.

 Already, posters are circulating online urging citizens to turn out in large numbers for Tuesday’s protests.

 Mr Mohamud noted that police must be notified at least three days prior to, and not more than 14 days before, any protest, warning that disorder would not be tolerated.

 Inspector General Douglas Kanja called for respect for police directives during public gatherings and cautioned against the use of goons and criminal gangs to cause havoc.

 “We warn all persons involved to cease and desist immediately from such criminality. Failure to do so will result in the full force of the law being applied,” Mr Kanja said, adding that perpetrators and their enablers would be held accountable.

 He also cautioned against attacks on police stations and assaults on officers, urging members of the public to report criminal activity and suspicious behaviour promptly.

 “Co-operate with community policing structures to improve safety through shared intelligence, trust-building, and joint problem-solving,” he said.

 President Ruto and Deputy President Kindiki have called on the opposition and youth to call off the protests, while also framing the fuel price increases as a consequence of global economic pressures.

 Meanwhile, various stakeholders have expressed divergent views.

 Vocal Africa, a civil society organisation, alongside six other groups from informal settlements in Nairobi, has urged police to ensure protesters are provided with adequate security.

 “Our plea is that the laws and Constitution of Kenya be followed. Those planning to hold protests should notify the police because demonstrations are not illegal,” said Vocal Africa chief Khalid Hussein.

 “Police should also ensure anyone who wants to demonstrate is given security to exercise their right. We urge officers to adhere to the Constitution and ensure everyone is safe,” he added.

 The civil society groups, including Mukuru Social Justice Centre, Kituo cha Haki, and Dandora Grassroots Women Movement, also raised concerns over rising cases of goonism, warning that the trend could fuel chaos as the country approaches the election period.

 Professor of History and Governance Macharia Munene argued that recent events point to a government that appears reactive, erratic, and increasingly out of control.

 “The President right now seems to be in insurmountable problems, but the reality is that these problems have long existed and the government has not been clear on policies that benefit the people. Instead of addressing public concerns, they have been reactionary,” he told The Sunday Standard.

 “When you see the IG and the police commissioner holding separate press conferences on the same day and issue, it makes the government appear hollow and uncertain of what it is doing.”

 He faulted the police for attempting to block citizens from exercising their democratic right to protest, warning that, as in the 1990s under former President Moi, public fear has diminished while State authority appears weakened.

 Munene added that the government has been in “panic mode” since the Gen Z protests.

 “President Ruto wasted a good crisis in the form of the Gen Z protests. That was his opportunity to introduce reforms addressing public concerns, but he did not. Instead, he went looking for Raila’s help and followed up with no action,” he said.

 Political analyst Charles Munyui attributed the current tensions to weak leadership and an increasingly burdensome tax regime.

 “Leadership is what is lacking. To forestall the protests, the state should address concerns raised by the opposition, such as transparency in oil procurement and the Government-to-Government arrangement. Telling Kenyans not to demonstrate is not the answer,” he said.

 He added that the protests are not merely impulsive, but a response to sustained economic pressure.

 “The issue of high fuel prices was a campaign promise of the Kenya Kwanza administration. It must recognise that while it may escape other issues, it cannot escape the impact of fuel prices on already struggling citizens such as boda boda riders and matatu operators,” he