Blinken calls President Ruto over anti-gov’t protests

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has called on President William Ruto to respect the freedoms of assembly and expression. In a phone call, Blinken urged the president to respect the voices of the youth and respect the roles played by the civil society and media. According to the US Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller, the Secretary of State reiterated the need to defend and protect the voices of youth, civil society and media. This he said was imperative given the vital role they play in a healthy democracy and their contributions to Kenya's development.