Protests have broken out across parts of Kenya over rising fuel prices and the increasing cost of living, with dozens of demonstrators arrested in the capital, Nairobi.
The demonstrations began on Tuesday after a recent fuel price increase announced by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority on April 15. Hundreds of youths took to the streets, disrupting traffic, while police moved in to disperse crowds, arresting at least 11 people and deploying water cannons in the central business district.
Officials say petrol prices rose by 16.1 percent and diesel by 24.2 percent, driven by higher import costs linked to global supply disruptions, including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Some businesses in cities such as Embu shut down ahead of the protests, although no fatalities were reported.
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President William Ruto has dismissed the protests, questioning their impact, and announced measures, including an eight percent reduction in VAT on fuel. However, demonstrators say the relief is insufficient, as many Kenyans continue to face high living costs.
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