THE US-RUTO REGIME in Kenya violently dispersed the people’s protests on June 25, killing up to 16 rallyists and injuring 400 others. The protest was part of the commemoration of a series of massive demonstrations last year against the neoliberal Finance Bill 2024, intensifying police violence, and state repression.

Recall that massive demonstrations in 2024 forced the US-Ruto regime to backtrack on its plan to impose the International Monetary Fund (IMF) dictated heavy taxes that would further impoverish the Kenyan masses. To cunningly pass the taxes, the Kenyan parliament approved them in parts over the past year.

Actions were held in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisii, and other cities. Protesters carried the Kenyan flag and chanted the calls “Ruto must go” and “occupy statehouse” (referring to occupying the Statehouse or Ruto’s residence as government head). They also brought images of those killed last year by police violence against demonstrations.

The International League of Peoples’ Struggles Africa and West Asia Regional Committee expressed support and solidarity with the struggle of the Kenyan masses. They urged Kenyans to persevere further amid intensifying repression.

“It is only right to continue organizing Kenyans and launching mass actions to advance the call for national sovereignty and democratic rights,” the committee stated. As demonstrated by the widespread protests of the Kenyan people in 2024, the ILPS believes that the growing actions can push the Ruto regime to withdraw its rotten policies.