Leading Kenyan publications have urged the country’s president, William Ruto, and the head of the opposition, Raila Odinga, “to consider if they want any more blood on their individual hands” as protests against recent tax rises enter their second day in the nation.
Six people were reportedly murdered on Wednesday after clashes between Kenyan police and protesters, according to local media.
In a joint editorial today, The Standard, Daily Nation, The Star and People Daily said Kenya “stands on the precipice”.
“Unless reason prevails, we could all very well tumble down into a dark and dangerous abyss from which it could be almost impossible to extricate ourselves,” the editorial said.
It added that Mr Ruto and Mr Odinga have the “greatest responsibility to put out the fire before it spreads out of control”.
The newspapers issued a warning stating that Kenya was susceptible to experiencing civil wars similar to those witnessed in neighboring countries in the past. They cautioned that the nation could potentially descend into “full-scale genocide.”
In light of ongoing protests, the press emphasized the importance of responsible demonstrations and urged the police to refrain from using excessive force against protesters.
Furthermore, some Kenyans on social media called upon the International Criminal Court (ICC) to take notice of alleged human rights violations committed by security forces during the protests.
In response to recent events, the Media Council of Kenya condemned cases where police officers disguised themselves as journalists to arrest protesters. The media watchdog expressed concern that such incidents put journalists at risk while carrying out their duties.