A special circular posted online on Monday called for millions of Kenyan citizens to occupy the State House in Nairobi, the capital city, on Thursday, August 8, 2024. The protest is being organized by concerned citizens and activists to address what they see as poor governance in the country.
The online circular and social media posts have sparked the trending hashtag #RutoMustGo, signifying a collective rejection of the current administration led by President William Ruto. One circular stated, “Ruto must go. Not my President. You can’t kill us and lead us.”
A user named Hon. Katiwa added, “They thought we would forget. They called us names and insulted us. We are a revolution from the internet, and the internet never forgets! We are coming for you! #NaneNaneMarch #NaneNane #RutoMustGo.”
Another user, Ojango Omondi Mc’Apondi, emphasized, “The poor will have nothing to eat but the rich. On #NaneNaneMarch #NaneNane, the youths are united, and nothing will stop us from reaching State House, our destination. #OccupyStateHouse #RutoMustGo.”
Davis wrote, “Ruto shall give a presser later today. He will throw a bone to us as usual to confuse us and derail the movement. However, today I feel he’ll be selling fear. Unless he’s dissolving Parliament or resigning, DO NOT RELENT. #NaneNane #NaneNaneMarch #RutoMustGo.”
These protests follow recent historic public demonstrations against bad governance in Kenya. The public pressure forced President Ruto to cancel planned pay raises for cabinet members and parliamentarians. This decision was influenced by a large protest that also led to the withdrawal of a controversial finance bill proposing tax increases.
Lyn Mengich, Chairperson of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), announced that proposed salary hikes for state officials would be postponed due to the current economic conditions. Initially, the SRC had proposed a 2% to 5% pay increase for all state officials, including judges, but this plan faced significant public scrutiny. Many questioned the rationale behind raising politicians’ salaries during a financial crisis.
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