June 20th 2024 Kenya’s day of Infamy

An unprecedented run on the Kenya shilling, reaching a low of 127 against the US Dollar was one of the factors that prompted President Ruto to introduce a swinging Finance bill that included the taxing of sanitary towels. In response, thousands of Protesters, mainly young college-age students. using TikTok, the Gen Zs took to the streets to register their dismay at the price hikes – A demonstration two days earlier went off without an incident but on the 20th of June, everything changed. No one knows who in the government or Police decided to change their tactics but change they did. As the protesters became more brazen, the police first resorted to water cannon and tear gas and finally resorted to shooting down unarmed young men in cold blood. Over 300 young people lost their lives. It was a grim reminder of Kenya's history of violent elections.