New Delhi: Protests in Nairobi against tax reforms proposed by the Kenyan President William Ruto-led government turned violent as the police opened fire, leaving at least five people dead and wounding several others, Amnesty Kenya reported.
Thousands had marched to the parliament building to stop the passing of the new finance bill, where they clashed with the Kenyan police after breaching barricades to enter the parliament complex and setting parts of the building on fire. Vehicles near the Kenyan Supreme Court were also set ablaze.
Rights groups reported that at least 31 were injured. Of these, “13 have been shot with live bullets, four with rubber bullets, and three people have been hit with launcher canisters,” a joint statement by Amnesty International Kenya, the Kenya Medical Association, the Law Society of Kenya, and Police Reforms Working Group Kenya read.
STATEMENT: 5 people have been shot dead while treating the injured. 31 people have been injured. 13 have been shot with live bullets, 4 with rubber bullets and 3 people have been hit with launcher canisters. 11 have minor injuries. #RejectFinanceBill2024 https://t.co/LEaKxuHVjY pic.twitter.com/btidueyWf7
— Amnesty Kenya (@AmnestyKenya) June 25, 2024
However, the death toll could be as high as 13, Al Jazeera reported.
There have also been allegations of abductions by the security forces. According to Amnesty Kenya, at least 12 people have been abducted over the last five days. There are also concerns about a possible internet shutdown in the African nation.
President Ruto, in a televised address, called the events of the day “treasonous”. He said, “Today, Kenya is under unprecedented attack on its democracy, rule of law.” The protests, he said, were “hijacked” by an organised group of criminals pretending to be peaceful protesters. He has vowed a “full response” to ensure that a situation of this nature does not recur.
Kenyan Defence Forces (KDF) and Military Intelligence (MI) Corps have been deployed to quell the nationwide protests. Emergency has been declared, as notified by Cabinet Defence Secretary Aden Duale.
Meanwhile, the Indian embassy in Kenya has issued an advisory for Indian nationals asking them to maintain ‘utmost caution’ and avoid non-essential movement.
ADVISORY FOR INDIAN NATIONALS IN KENYA
In view of the prevailing tense situation, all Indians in Kenya are advised to exercise utmost caution, restrict non-essential movement and avoid the areas affected by the protests and violence till the situation clears up.
— India in Kenya (@IndiainKenya) June 25, 2024
In a joint statement, 13 Western embassies in Kenya have expressed ‘shock’ and ‘deep concern’.
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The anti-tax protests
The protests against Finance Bill 2024 that began about two weeks ago have seen massive participation by the Kenyan youth. The #RejectFinanceBill2024 and #OccupyParliament protests took off on social media platform TikTok, and later moved to the ground.
The controversy started around May, when President Ruto’s government introduced the bill suggesting tax hikes to raise $2.7 billion in additional taxes, equivalent to 1.9 percent of the gross domestic product.
These include a 16 percent tax on bread and 25 percent tax on cooking oil, as the original bill proposed. Import fees levied on the importer were also proposed, and so was an eco levy on products that produce waste, ranging from digital items like mobile phones to baby nappies, BBC reported. The protesters have alleged these hikes are “unreasonable” given the rising costs of living.
While the country is under “worrying debt”, Ruto has been accused of going back on his promise of making life easier for poor Kenyans, causing a nation-wide stir.
Kenyan troops in Haiti
Meanwhile, a batch of Kenyan police-led forces arrived in Haiti Tuesday to help the country fight against gang violence and the subsequent turmoil.
A group of 400 Kenyan police officers has arrived in Haiti to take on the gangs, an effort largely organised by US President Joe Biden-led administration. The Kenyans are the first to deploy an expected 2,500-member force of international police officers and soldiers from eight countries, the New York Times reported.
Kenya’s involvement in the UN-backed mission has witnessed legal and political opposition within the country. The Kenyan High Court had earlier this year blocked the deployment, while opposition leaders have called it Ruto’s profit-making initiative.
Led by Kenya’s Recce Commandos, under the 2023 MSS initiative, several countries have pitched in by offering to send forces, including Benin, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Guyana, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, and Chad. Forces are being trained by American and French counterparts.
(Edited by Mannat Chugh)
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