COAST REGION PROTEST SITUATION BRIEF NO. 3 ON 27TH JUNE, 2024
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Nation Wide protests led by Gen-Z change focus from the Finance Bill to Ousting of President Ruto and his Administration
- Peaceful protests have been infiltrated by criminal gangs who loots and attack pedestrians and fellow protesters with over 10 reports received in Mombasa and Kilifi
- Heavy Police deployment has been done in town areas and patrols in the peri-urban to deter protests
- Increasing dissent, misinformation and disinformation on online platforms inform on the planning and execution of protest
- Dwindling public confidence on state security actors as the Presidency casts aspersions over the reputation of the Inspector General of Police and the National Intelligence Service Director
- Protesters/Civil Society are now demanding for accountability of state security actor on the process of public order management and command responsibility.
- Scenarios built by human rights defenders Paint a gruesome picture of potential degeneration in to wanton violence
SITUATION ANALYSIS
Despite the president’s U-turn decision to not to assent the Finance Bill. The GEN-Z seems to vehemently rejects a recently delivered message, criticizing its late timing and suspicious nature. In statements captured through online monitoring, several grievances being raised by the Gen Z protesters include: shifting goals after recent tragic events, dissatisfaction with post-colonial systems creating socioeconomic inequality, shock at the wealth distribution favoring the elite, and the lack of meritocracy. It condemns the government’s leadership strategy, calls out the dishonesty and bribery within parliament, and criticizes the failure to address key national issues like resource embezzlement. The GEN –Z are going rogue online demanding for the government to resign, as they believe it has lost all legitimacy. The deployment of the KDF officers to boost national security has also become a thorn in the flesh of the country’s democracy.
In Mombasa and Kilifi the protesters had planed to light candles in solidarity with their comrades who were killed during the Nationwide protests where 3 people were killed. This procession and candle lighting vigil was postponed as protesters took to the streets interfering with the peaceful process.
In Mombasa the protests have since been infiltrated by criminals who are looting pedestrians and local businesses in the CBD and environs. The EWER system has received about 4 incidences of looting reported on Thursday alone during the protests.
There is heavy police deployment in Mombasa to enhance public order management, however there are reports of disproportionate use of force by the law enforcers even coming after two casualties of police brutality were reported in Tuesday. Confrontations between protesters, gangs and the police are ongoing in Mombasa and Kilifi. Unverified reports indicate some casualties and one person is suspected to have been shot dead
Human Right Defenders and activists are calling for human right accountability to promote the respect for the rule of law and human rights. Some have organized engagement to chant their plans of action to avert the situation.
There is also increasing misinformation and disinformation on social media sites by both the Gen Z but also propagandists online that want to derail the conversation by the protesters. Over the past 2 days there have been 3 major discussion on X spaces where the public have vented their dissatisfaction with the Public. These discussions have pulled over 50000 followers each.
The move by the Presidency cast aspersions over the competence and command responsibility of the Inspector General of Police , and the NIS directors who have been termed to be incompetent has raised public alarmed/concern over the type of commands issued to police in light of public order management during the protests.
KECOSCE’s EWER system shall continue to collect data and provide situational briefs to stakeholders for increased human rights based response to this fluid situation in Kenya with a focus to the Coast region.
REPORTED EVENTS ON DAY 2 THE 27TH JUNE, 2024.
| COUNTY | LOCATIONS | EVENTS |
| MOMBASA | Bombolulu-Kisauni
Mvita. Nyali Changamwe, Jomvu |
At around 11.35AM Protesters carrying placards, whistles and vuvuzelas were observed in the CBD heading towards Likoni Ferry as police officers are deployed.
Youths have taken to social media to express their frustration in the government of the day as they encourage one another not to relent on their move to hold the government accountable and their voices to be heard. Some of them term the president’s speech as cosmetic and misleading. For instance in one whatsapp platform dubbed “Ruto Must Go, Occupy Statehouse” youths maintain the occupy statehouse tone as they reflect on how the government refereed to them as criminals when they spoke their voices. Tension is high in towns, residents are suspicious and some are confused following the government move to deploy the Kenya Defense Forces to enhance security. Several youths and human rights activists to light candles in town to mourn the death of their colleagues who perished during the protests. Protests have been infiltrated by suspected criminal gangs who are reported to be looting people in town. There are violent confrontations between protesters and the police. One person has been reported to have been shot by the police areas most affected include: – Buxton, Tononoka, Majengo, Markiti, Mwembe Tayari, CBD, Saba Saba, and Old Town (Towards Markiti) |
| KILIFI | Malindi. Kilifi town | Youths are mobilizing both physically and online claiming they will not relent as the government waited too long to respond to their grievance and the damage has already been done. In Malindi sub county rumors has it that they will be meeting at Naivas in Malindi town. Youth in Kazuri area temporarily blocked the Mombasa-Malindi highway but anti riot police have quelled the situation. |
| Kilifi North | The Youth in Kibaoni and uwanja wa water area started a procession for several hours then later disperse due to police deployment in the area. | |
| KWALE | Ukunda, Kombani | Most businesses closed and usually busy streets have been abandoned as most locals remain indoors. The situation remains calm. Businesses in other remote areas continue uninterrupted. |
Possible scenarios
- Youth resolve to protest and don’t go to state house – ( Very Likely)
- Police will still kill the demonstrators
- Government instructs county security teams to arrest protesters and arraign them in court
- Media freedoms are curtailed by the state
- More abductions will be reported
- Dialogue starts with state friendly youth leaders
- Deputy President may lead an onslaught towards fragmenting the ruling coalition
- Azimio leaders take advantage of the situation to organize more demonstrations
- GenZ refuses to dialogue with government due to increasing apathy towards national dialogue processes whose reports are not being implemented. GenZ resort to all forms of active non violence against the state