Nairobi: Heavy security amid violent protests against Kenya’s controversial finance bill | World News

“I won’t die on my knees”

The match has been lit and a flare of rage set off.

The clouds of tear gas in the heart of Kenya’s capital are doing little to disperse young protestors facing off against riot police after days of unrest.

They angrily shout: “Ruto must go”. Some throw rocks and glass bottles back at the police while dodging canisters and flash bombs.

We see young men singled out by the officers, beaten with batons and dragged along the street before being thrown into police trucks. Two of them escape from the back and run off, yelling defiantly and merging back into the small crowds weaving through the tall buildings of Nairobi’s Central Business District.

Many have peeled away from the mass protests after a concession from President William Ruto to withdraw the contentions tax bill they gathered to reject.

But those who are still on the streets are unmoved by Mr Ruto’s words and the promises of his government. Outraged by growing corruption and enraged by the killing of protestors in the crackdown.

“They are f***ing killing us,” 24-year-old Kelvin yells at an active crossroad.

“We are protesting because they are not listening to us. He (Mr Ruto) could’ve said what he said before f***ing killing us.”

“As a young nation we have to stand. I won’t die on my knees, I’ll die on my feet.”