Investigations into police conduct during anti-government protests in Kenya begin

EVELYNE MUSAMBI, Associated Press

29 mins ago

A tear gas grenade explodes during a protest against planned tax increases in a finance bill to be introduced at parliament in Nairobi, Kenya, Thursday, June 20, 2024. Civil society groups say the demonstrations and a planned sit-in outside the parliament building will go ahead despite the dozens of arrests. (AP Photo/ Andrew Kasuku)

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya’s police oversight agency said Friday it had launched an investigation into police conduct during protests against government plans to impose new taxes.

The chairperson of Kenya’s independent police watchdog, Anne Makori, praised the protesters for their peaceful demonstration and called on the police to exercise restraint, while pointing to the killing of one protester and injuries to protesters and police officers.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets in the Kenyan capital Nairobi and other major cities across the country on Thursday, calling on parliamentarians to reject a finance bill that would impose new taxes on Kenyans.

The mother of the young man who was shot during the protests told journalists that her son was coming home from work when tear gas was thrown in his direction and police shot at fleeing protesters.

Gillian Munyao said her 29-year-old son Rex was with some friends when he fell after being hit on his left leg.

“His friend noticed that he had fallen and went to check on him, only to find that he was bleeding heavily. He asked a passerby for help, and the police officers who approached them refused to help,” she told reporters outside the City Mortuary, where her son’s body lies.

The Kenya Red Cross said on Thursday that 39 people were injured and eight of them were in critical condition.

A joint statement by the Law Society of Kenya, the Kenya Medical Association, the Defenders Coalition, the Independent Medical Legal Unit and Amnesty International said at least 200 people were injured in the protests.

The International Commission of Jurists on Thursday called on the Independent Police Oversight Authority to investigate cases of police violence during the protests.

“We reiterate that the use of live ammunition against demonstrators is disproportionate and unlawful,” said ICJ President Protas Saende.

Police have not yet commented on the deaths and injuries sustained during the protests, but a statement from Inspector General Japhet Koome said officers “neither tolerate nor condone efforts by protesters to occupy critical government infrastructure.”

Protesters who tried to enter the parliament building on Thursday, where the debate on the budget law was taking place, were met with water cannons, tear gas grenades and rubber bullets or live ammunition.

The draft budget, which includes new health insurance contributions, taxes on vegetable oil and an additional fuel levy, was easily passed in the second reading. The final vote is expected next week. The government amended some controversial proposals, including a value-added tax on bread – which was previously zero percent – and an eco-tax on goods that would have affected the prices of sanitary towels and diapers.