Over 200 injured, 100 arrested in tax protests in Kenya – human rights groups | The Mighty 790 KFGO

NAIROBI (Reuters) – At least 200 people were injured and more than 100 arrested in nationwide protests in Kenya 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 the use of live ammunition, it was said. One person died of a gunshot wound during the protests in Nairobi, the Daily Nation newspaper reported.

Nairobi District Police Commissioner Adamson Bungei did not answer his phone to respond to the reported killings, injuries and arrests.

“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.

However, the International Monetary Fund believes that the government needs to 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)