The ‘State of the Nation’ protests, organised by social activist and photojournalist Boniface Mwangi , had previously been given the go-ahead by police.

However, just an hour before the protests were due to begin organisers read media reports which stated that the rally had been banned to prevent “terrorists” from joining them.

Scores of people were already on their way to the rallying point of Uhuru Park when they were met by heavily armed police who fired rubber bullets and teargas to disperse the crowd.

There were no injuries but three protestors were arrested and charged with incitement to violence and public disturbance.

The ban followed a strongly-worded statement from Kenya’s National Security Advisory Committee on Wednesday evening which claimed that some individuals – including one “Boniface M.” – were being funded by US donor agency USAID to “undermine[the] sovereignty of a legitimate and democratic government and interfere with internal matters.”

However, Mwangi said the ban was “unconstitutional and inspired by an unpopular government fearing to be accountable to the people.”

Mwangi, who is currently in hiding after escaping arrest by jumping from the back of a police van according to eyewitnesses, told Equal Times: “As required by law we notified the police about the peaceful demonstrations. We have a right to protest and that right is enshrined in the constitution.

 “Kenya is becoming a police state. Why is the government afraid of peaceful citizens airing their grievances?”

Frustrated

According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, the country’s unemployment rate stands at 40 per cent while the average annual salary of US$1,700 condemns millions to a life of working poverty.

President Uhuru Kenyatta came to power last April promising to improve the economy, create jobs and fighting state corruption.

But people feel that little has changed.

When 26-year-old John Paul Muteshi graduated from Kenya’s Maseno University last year, he had high hopes of clinching a well-paying job.

Several months and hundreds of job applications later, this science and information technology graduate’s hopes of being gainfully employed in his field are fading fast.

“My expectation was to get a job as soon as possible. But that has not been the case,” says a dejected Muteshi, who now works on a short-term contract as a research assistant with an international NGO.

Like many other Kenyans, Muteshi is frustrated.

“The government continues to talk big but has not delivered on its promises.”

Serious challenges

According to Erick Matsanza, a social activist and national secretary for Labour Party of Kenya (LPK), the demonstrations were meant to show the government that the time has come to seriously address the challenges facing ordinary citizens.

“The ruling elite are wrongly using their mandate to destroy the country’s social, economic and political fabric,” he said.

“Our president says there are corrupt cartels in his government, what does he mean? He should go ahead and fire them because that’s part of the reason Kenyans voted for him.”

In a protest also organised by Mwangi last year, protestors unleashed a litter of pigs outside of the country’s parliament building to protest against pay hikes for Members of Parliament.

“[Our government] promised to safeguard the tenets of freedom and democracy,” says political commentator Joseph Lister Nyaringo.

“They promised to respect the constitution, fight impunity and tackle graft. But what we are currently seeing is a complete metamorphosis.

“Corruption has gone sky high. Freedom is tampered with and there are skewed public appointments; with little or no regard to regional balance, youth, women and meritocracy,” Nyaringo told Equal Times.

Fears

These growing frustrations were captured in a recent poll conducted by the global research firm Ipsos Synovate which showed that the majority of Kenyans are bracing themselves for an increase in living costs over the coming year (70 per cent) and a decline in the general economic condition (60 per cent).

The poll also revealed that over a third (37 per cent) of Kenyans expect the country’s job market to get even worse.

“Employment creation in Kenya continues to be an unsurmountable task in both the formal and informal sectors,” Margaret Ireri, Managing Director of Ipsos Kenya told Equal Times.

This is despite favourable economic growth indicators which have shown the economy is poised to improve.

The World Bank projects the Kenyan economy to grow by an estimated 5.1 per cent in 2014.

Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) Secretary General Francis Atwoli urges Kenyans to exercise patience with the government as it rolls out is economic programmes.

However, he also calls on President Kenyatta to move fast to implement programmes aimed at improving the lives of ordinary Kenyans.

"The President and his deputy should no longer trade excuses as they have had a year in power to organise the government. Kenyans can only be patient for so long," Atwoli told Equal Times.

Atwoli has also called on the government to crackdown on corruption, which is estimated to cost Kenyans nearly US$4 billion a year.

"President Uhuru Kenyatta should expose and sack the powerful individuals behind corruption in his government. He should not waste any time," Atwoli said.