Protests against Kenya’s tax hike proposal reportedly turn deadly in Nairobi

Johannesburg — Chaos reigned outside Kenya’s Parliament on Tuesday when police opened fire with live ammunition and tear gas on young demonstrators amid demonstrations against a proposed tax increase. Protesters overwhelmed police and managed to break into part of the Parliament building in Nairobi and start a fire.

The Reuters news agency quoted a doctor as saying at least 10 people had been shot and killed, but there was no immediate confirmation of deaths or injuries from Kenyan authorities or Nairobi police . Social media was flooded with images of protesters carrying injured people away from the chaos.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article includes images of possible injuries and deaths that some readers may find disturbing.

Inside parliament, as blood flowed onto the sidewalk, lawmakers voted in favor of the government’s finance bill that included controversial tax increases. The text will now be sent to Kenyan President William Ruto, who can either sign it or send it back to lawmakers for changes.

Police had been warned that tens of thousands of protesters would take to the streets across the country on Tuesday as anger over proposed tax increases reached a fever pitch. Parliament and at least one other government building in Nairobi were surrounded by security in anticipation of the protests, but forces deployed around the legislature were overwhelmed.

The protests were led by young Kenyans demanding that President William Ruto abandon the proposed tax increase, which many say would be unfairly borne by younger generations. The protests were launched under the banner of “7 Days of Rage,” and the country is bracing for several more days of upheaval.

Two people were killed during similar protests last week, including at least one man reportedly shot by police.

Ruto recently said he was proud of Kenyan youth who are making their voices heard and wanted to engage with them in a dialogue on the country’s finances.

Rights group Amnesty International said at least 12 figures involved in the protest movement were kidnapped in the five days before Tuesday’s unrest, including Monday evening, in what appears to be an attempt to kidnap them. keep away. demonstrations.

“It is unacceptable that individuals exercising their democratic rights to peaceful assembly and expression are forcibly detained,” said a statement from the Kenya Police Reform Working Group, referring to the same disappearances.

In May, President Biden welcomed Ruto to the White House, an honor bestowed on an African leader for the first time under Mr. Biden’s presidency. Mr. Biden followed up on the honor on Monday by designating Kenya a “major non-NATO ally” of the United States, making it the first sub-Saharan country to bear this designation.

The budget bill approved by Parliament on Tuesday aims to raise an additional $2.7 billion in federal taxes to alleviate a very heavy national debt burden. Nearly 40% of Kenya’s total national income has been spent on paying interest on its debt in recent years, and international financial organizations have urged the government to regain control of its finances.

The COVID pandemic and other issues delayed some of the tough measures, and the government abandoned some of the proposals that had sparked anger, such as raising taxes on basic goods such as cooking oil, bread and certain financial transactions.