Kenya’s police chief has resigned after criticism of officers’ conduct during recent antigovernment demonstrations in which dozens of protesters were killed. The presidency says that President William Ruto has accepted the resignation of Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome, who has served in the role since November 2022. Deputy Inspector-General Douglas Kanja has been appointed acting police chief with immediate effect. The announcement came a day after Ruto sacked nearly his entire cabinet, bowing to the demands of protesters. Some of the young people behind the demonstrations had called for Koome to go, with police accused of using excessive force during the protests, the most serious crisis of Ruto’s near two-year presidency.