Human rights groups: More than 200 injured and 100 arrested in tax protests in Kenya

NAIROBI (Reuters) – At least 200 people were injured and more than 100 arrested in Kenya during nationwide protests on Thursday against government plans to collect $2.7 billion in additional taxes, a coalition of human rights groups said.

Police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse protesters in the capital Nairobi, the five human rights groups, including Amnesty International and the Kenya Medical Association, said in a joint statement late Thursday.

The presence of cartridge cases suggests that live ammunition was used, it was said.

An unidentified person died at Bliss Hospital from a gunshot wound to the thigh sustained during the protest, the Daily Nation newspaper reported.

A 29-year-old man died at the same hospital on Thursday evening while being treated for a wound to his thigh, according to a police report seen by Reuters. The report did not say how he was injured, but it is believed to be the same person quoted in the newspaper.

Nairobi County Police Commander Adamson Bungei did not answer telephone calls.

“We commend the several thousand demonstrators, including many young people, for their peaceful protest and for showing restraint and decency despite the provocations by the police,” the group said.

The protesters are demanding that the government completely withdraw the finance bill, saying it would stifle the economy and increase the cost of living for Kenyans who are already struggling to make ends meet.

The International Monetary Fund, on the other hand, believes that the government must increase its revenues in order to reduce the budget deficit and public debt.

Earlier this week, the government softened its stance somewhat, with President William Ruto supporting recommendations to abolish some of the new taxes, including on car ownership, bread, cooking oil and financial transactions.

Despite widespread demonstrations that broke out in 19 of Kenya’s 47 counties, parliamentarians passed the finance bill in second reading on Thursday and passed the controversial tax proposals on to the next round of voting.

Parliamentarians are expected to meet on Tuesday to vote on the proposed amendments to the bill. Parliament’s budget committee estimates the bill would blow a 200 billion Kenyan shilling ($1.56 billion) hole in the 2024/25 budget and force the government to cut spending.

(Reporting by Hereward Holland and Humphrey Malalo, editing by William Maclean and Kim Coghill)