Photo Credit: Reuters
Kenyan President William Ruto condemned protests on Tuesday, which saw parliament stormed and at least five people shot dead, as “treasonous” but did not address the growing outrage over a controversial finance bill that sparked the widespread demonstrations.
Kenya is in the throes of nationwide protests against proposed tax hikes, culminating in Tuesday’s “total shutdown” of the country. The protests quickly turned violent as police used tear gas and live rounds on demonstrators. The finance bill has ignited a "7 Days of Rage" movement, despite the government recently scrapping some tax increases, including a proposed 16% value-added tax on bread, and taxes on motor vehicles, vegetable oil, and mobile money transfers. These concessions have not been sufficient to quell the unrest amid the rising cost of living.
Kenyan police were also seen beating and later arresting paramedics who were assisting injured protesters. Following a nationwide address after the parliament was set alight, Ruto stated that the events were a grave threat to “national security” and accused “dangerous people” of hijacking the conversation around the bill.
“It is not in order, or even conceivable, that criminals pretending to be peaceful protesters can reign terror against the people, their elected representatives, and the institutions established under our Constitution and expect to go scot-free,” Ruto said. He emphasized the need to differentiate between democratic expression and crime.
The Kenyan defense ministry announced that the military has been deployed to support police services as human rights and civil society groups criticized the police's heavy-handed response.
According to a joint statement by Amnesty International Kenya, the Kenya Medical Association, the Law Society of Kenya, and Police Reforms Working Group Kenya, at least five people were shot dead, and around 31 were injured during Tuesday’s protests. The statement also accused the police of shooting at a medical emergency center located at a church.
“The use of live bullets must now stop,” the statement said. “Despite the assurance by the government that the right to assembly would be protected and facilitated, today’s protests have spiraled into violence. Human rights observers and medical officers have reported several incidents of human rights violations.”
The dramatic scenes in Nairobi saw government buildings set on fire and a ceremonial mace stolen from Parliament. Lawmakers were evacuated as police clashed with protesters. Internet monitoring site NetBlocks reported a “major disruption” to internet
connectivity on Tuesday.
Nairobi’s City Hall and the office of the Governor of Nairobi were also set on fire. Vehicles parked at Kenya’s Supreme Court were similarly torched.
Security forces have also been accused of abducting prominent Kenyans, particularly those with large social media followings. Amnesty International Kenya is investigating the whereabouts of up to 12 people who were “abducted in the middle of the night” ahead of Tuesday’s planned protests. The list includes bloggers, content creators, human rights defenders, a doctor, and a parliamentary staffer.
