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Kenya's Police Chief Resigns Amid Deadly Anti-Tax Protests Leaving 41 Dead

Jul 12, 2024, 01:13 PM

Kenya has been engulfed in protests against the tax policies of President William Ruto, resulting in a brutal police crackdown that left at least 41 people dead. The unrest, which began three weeks ago, has led to significant changes in the country's security leadership. President Ruto has accepted the resignation of Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome, appointing his deputy, Douglas Kanja, as the acting Inspector General. Additionally, Patrick Mwiti Arandu has been named the new Commissioner General of Prisons. The protests have also sparked public outrage and criticism of the government's handling of the situation. President Ruto also fired several ministers amid the crisis. The Biden administration's reluctance to criticize Ruto more harshly has been noted, partly due to Ruto's deployment of Kenyan police to Haiti, a move opposed by popular opinion in Kenya and deemed illegal by Kenya’s supreme court. This follows a state visit in May where the US designated Kenya a major non-NATO ally.