A proposal to raise taxes on almost all types of goods has been passed by the Kenyan Parliament. As soon as the motion was passed, protests started all over Nairobi, including the Parliament Square. Agitators set fire to a police box in Parliament Square
Anti-government protests in Kenya have killed 39 so far. Hundreds of thousands of people staged massive violent protests across the country, including in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, to protest the passage of a controversial finance bill to raise taxes. And that’s when this loss of life happened. At least 361 others were injured. Besides, at least 32 people are still missing and 627 people have been arrested for their involvement in the agitation and subversive activities.
Kenya’s human rights organization The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) says that last Tuesday, a resolution regarding the increase in taxes on almost all types of goods was passed in the Kenyan Parliament. As soon as the motion was passed, protests started all over Nairobi, including the Parliament Square. Protesters set fire to a police box in Parliament Square, police opened fire to disperse the angry crowd. The young generation of the country is leading the movement.
Meanwhile, Kenyan President William Ruto addressed the nation on Kenyan government television last Sunday amid anti-government protests. In that speech, he said that 19 people have been killed so far in the movement. But the law and order forces are not responsible for their deaths, they lost their lives due to conflict and chaos among themselves. Ruto also said in the speech that he has no intention or plan to resign in the near future.
KNCHR said the protesters have become more reckless since the speech was broadcast. They have now started vandalism as well as setting fire to various government buildings. Along with that, the protestors have called to spread the movement across the country. Kenya’s social media is filled with hashtags like ‘Occupy all the places’, ‘Buy Ruto’, ‘Abolish the budget corrupters’.
