Businesses remained closed and roadblocks in place amid tentative calm after violent unrest in Nairobi and other parts of Kenya on Monday. In Embu, to the northeast of the capital, protesters gathered once more on Tuesday after a lawmaker was arrested, says DW's Andrew Wasike.

"Angry residents have lit bonfires and barricaded roads with stones, paralysing traffic in parts of the town," Wasike says. The protesters are accusing government of political persecution and demanding the release of lawmaker Gitonga Mukunji. 

The authorities reportedly accused the lawmaker of inciting citizens to protest on the 35th anniversary of the pro-democracy Saba Saba uprising.

Meanwhile, in the central city of Kiambu on Tuesday, the case of a girl killed by a stray bullet during the Saba Saba Day unrest was fueling public anger.

"Protesters took to the streets by the hundreds to call for justice for the family of the 12-year-old," Wasike says.

According to police, over 560 people were arrested in the Saba Saba Day unrest where protesters called on President William Ruto to resign.

Government response — 'authoritarianism'

On Wednesday, Ruto issued a stern warning: Anyone deciding to storm a person’s business or a police station should be shot in the leg. Thereafter, they can go to court and see what follows next." 

The government would not tolerate people who want to ""change the government using unconstitutional means," Ruto said.

"Those plotting to remove me from office before 2027 must know we will not let them destroy this country through unconstitutional means."

Over the past year, Kenya has seen waves of deadly anti-government protests. On June 25, at least 19 people were killed and over 400 injured in clashes between protesters and police. 

Isabel Brenda, a senior elections and governance advisor at the Electoral Law and Governance Institute for Africa, is critical of the government's response. 

"The government's reaction is very unfortunate because the government, of course, has panicked and is resorting to authoritarianism and over-policing, which has led to loss of lives," Brenda told DW.

Many of the protesters are youth, who say they are frustrated by corruption, economic hardship and poor governance. Protesters this week reiterated their calls for an end to police brutality, and for equality and opportunities.

"There's serious unemployment gaps and issues with young people. The cost of living is very high. So, these are some of the issues that are really pressing Kenyan citizens," says Brenda. 

Business owners are worried

Shops were torched and ransacked in the unrest. "Look, everything is burnt," one Nairobi shopkeeper told Reuters this week "So please," the shopkeeper addressed the government, "try to talk to the Gen Zs. Because all that is happening is because of the Gen Zs."

Some business owners say the unrest is threatening their livelihoods. "Things are so tough in our country right now. Sometimes you come from morning until evening, and you've not sold. And these are things that we've invested in for so long. We are appealing for calm," a trader told Reuters.

According to Brenda, the decentralized nature of the protests has contributed to the volatility. "The Gen Zs, as you know, are leaderless; they are party-less, they are tribe-less. They don't believe in going into ethnic cocoons," she told DW.

Is there a solution?

In the runup to Saba Saba Day, Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said the government was committed to protecting life and property.

"Our security agencies are on high alert to deal decisively with criminals and other elements of ill intent who may seek to infiltrate peaceful processions to cause havoc, mayhem, or destruction of property," Murkomen said.

Brenda warns that the government risks underestimating the scale of the public discontent. "I will echo what I think the country is feeling in terms of the government not listening to its people. It's tone deaf. These are young people who are saying that we are tired of bad governance, and we want changes," she said.

"I mean, you cannot bury your head in the sand simply because you are unhappy with what young people are saying. I would rather you remove your head from the sand and listen to what is being said. Come to the table, find solutions."

Edited by: Benita van Eyssen