Kenyan president to deliver state of the nation

Amid mounting tensions and criticism, Kenyan President William Ruto is set to deliver his third State of the Nation address to parliament. The address comes in the wake of significant political upheaval, including the recent impeachment of his deputy president on charges of constitutional violations and inciting ethnic hatred.

Police thwarted attempted protests outside parliament ahead of Ruto's speech, blocking key intersections and maintaining a heavy security presence. The demonstrations that rocked the nation between June and August, triggered by controversial tax increases, have largely subsided following what human rights organizations describe as violent police suppression that resulted in over 60 deaths and numerous abductions of protest organizers.

Ruto's administration faces multiple challenges, including criticism from religious leaders over excessive taxation, unfulfilled promises, and resource mismanagement. The country's debt burden has exceeded $80 billion, with interest payments surpassing expenditure on health and education. Despite achieving 5.4% economic growth last year, one-third of Kenya's 52 million citizens live in poverty.

Recent controversies include international condemnation over forced extraditions of foreign nationals, problems with a new health insurance scheme implementation, and controversy surrounding the Adani Group's planned $1.85-billion takeover of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. The situation has been further complicated by US fraud charges against Adani's founder.

While Ruto has maintained strong ties with Western allies and donors, his government's economic policies, particularly the reintroduction of various tax measures through new bills following the earlier protests, continue to face opposition. The Catholic Church, traditionally aligned with Kenyan leadership, has issued a harsh critique of the administration's handling of abductions, living costs, and corruption.