On Tuesday morning, riot police patrolled Nairobi as young activists called for renewed protests following deadly clashes the previous week. Despite President William Ruto's appeals for dialogue and his abandonment of proposed tax hikes, the protest movement, largely organized through social media and without official leaders, remains resolute. Angered by the deaths—39 according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNHCR)—many protesters now demand Ruto's resignation. "We are determined to push for the president's resignation," said activist Ojango Omondi in Nairobi, expressing hope for peaceful protests with minimal casualties.

Initially sparked by outrage over nearly $2.7 billion in proposed tax hikes, the protests have evolved into a nationwide movement against corruption and misgovernance, posing the most significant challenge to Ruto's presidency, which began nearly two years ago. Ruto faces pressure from lenders like the International Monetary Fund to reduce deficits, while Kenyans struggle with the soaring cost of living. In response to the withdrawal of the finance bill, Ruto has directed the treasury to find ways to cut spending and mentioned that more borrowing would be necessary.

The protests, which began in mid-June, remained mostly peaceful until last Tuesday when clashes between police and demonstrators erupted. Some protesters briefly stormed and set fire to part of the parliament. Police opened fire, resulting in numerous fatalities, according to human rights groups. The KNHCR reported 39 deaths and 361 injuries since the protests began on June 18.

Ruto defended the police, attributing the violence to "criminals" who had hijacked the demonstrations. State House communications director Gerald Bitok urged for peace and order, emphasizing patriotism on X, and denouncing violence.

It remains uncertain how many people would heed the calls for new protests. Early Tuesday morning, no demonstrations were reported, and downtown Nairobi, the site of intense protests last week, saw shops opening as usual. Roadblocks were set up leading to the president's official residence. Kennedy Otwal, walking through downtown, expressed skepticism about the turnout, suggesting that fear of police violence might deter protesters.