Kenya prepares for new protests after dozens of people killed in anti-tax demonstrations

The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KNCHR) said on Monday that 39 people were killed and 361 injured during the two-week demonstrations and condemned the use of violence against protesters as “excessive and disproportionate”.

Largely peaceful demonstrations against a series of tax hikes – led on social media primarily by young Kenyans of Generation Z – turned into shocking scenes of deadly chaos on Tuesday last week as parliamentarians passed the deeply unpopular laws.

After the election results were announced, crowds looted the parliament complex in central Nairobi and parts of it caught fire when police fired live ammunition at the demonstrators.

Ruto said in a television interview on Sunday that 19 people had lost their lives, but defended his decision to deploy the armed forces to combat the unrest, stressing that he had “no blood on his hands”.

It is the most serious crisis the president has faced since he took office in September 2022 following a deeply divisive election in a country often seen as a beacon of stability in a turbulent region.

Ruto’s decision on Wednesday to change course and repeal the tax legislation apparently did not appease his critics.

And although he said he was ready to speak to young Kenyans about their grievances, activists have vowed to continue their protests, posting leaflets on social media this week calling for further action.

“We will not let up until William Ruto resigns unconditionally,” said a leaflet with the hashtag “RutoMustGo.”

She declared Tuesday and Thursday as holidays for an “OccupyEverywhere” movement and called on all Kenyans to hold sit-ins on the country’s main roads on these days.

The state-funded KNCHR said on Monday that in addition to the deaths and injuries from previous protests, there had been 32 cases of “enforced or involuntary disappearances” and 627 arrests of protesters.

“The Commission continues to condemn in the strongest possible terms the unjustified violence and coercion used against protesters, medical personnel, lawyers, journalists and in safe places such as churches, emergency medical centers and ambulances,” the KNCHR said.

It added that it “strongly condemns the violent and shocking acts of lawlessness displayed by some of the protesters,” including attacks on Parliament and other government buildings.

The organization also stressed that the “wanton destruction” of property related to some politicians, as well as threats and violence against them, were “unacceptable” incidents.

Kenya’s cash-strapped government had previously said the tax increases were necessary to fill the state coffers and service the enormous national debt of around 10 trillion shillings (78 billion dollars), or about 70 percent of GDP.

Ruto had already withdrawn some tax measures after the protests began, after which the Finance Ministry warned of a gaping budget deficit of 200 billion shillings (1.6 billion dollars).

In the interview on Sunday, Ruto warned that the government would have to borrow another $7.7 billion due to the decision to drop the finance bill.

txw/rbu/rox