39 Killed, Over 300 Injured In Kenya’s Anti-Tax Protests, Says Rights Body

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights has said that at least 39 people have been killed and hundreds more sustained injuries in anti-government demonstrations.

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights has said that at least 39 people have been killed and hundreds more sustained injuries in anti-government demonstrations. (Photo: X/ G. Drar)

At least 39 people have been killed and over three hundred sustained injuries in anti-government demonstrations in Kenya, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) said on Monday, as reported by news agency AFP. This comes as activists gear up for a fresh round of protests this week.

The toll announced by KNCHR is almost double the figure disclosed earlier by the authorities for those who lost their lives while protesting against a set of increases in taxes that were later withdrawn.

In a statement, Kenya’s national rights watchdog said, “Data from our records indicates that 39 people have died and 361 [have been] injured in relation to the protests countrywide,” as quoted by AFP. It further stated that the figures covered the period from June 18 to July 1.

The rights body also said there had been 32 cases of “enforced or involuntary disappearances” and 627 arrests of protesters. The largely peaceful anti-tax rallies turned into deadly violence last Tuesday when lawmakers passed the legislation.

After the vote was announced, crowds ransacked the parliament complex in central Nairobi, and it was partly set ablaze as police fired live bullets at protesters. 

“The commission continues to condemn in the strongest terms possible the unwarranted violence and force that was inflicted on protesters, medical personnel, lawyers, journalists, and on safe spaces such as churches, medical emergency centres and ambulances,” the KNCHR said, as quoted by AFP. “We maintain that the force used against the protesters was excessive and disproportionate,” it added.

It further stated that it “strongly condemns the violent and shocking acts of lawlessness that was exhibited by some of the protesters,” including at the parliament and other government buildings. The Kenyan authorities were shaken after small rallies gathered pace and thousands of people took to the streets against the tax increase. 

Despite the withdrawal of tax laws by Kenyan President William Ruto, fresh protests have been called by activists starting on Tuesday.

Kenya’s government had said previously that the tax hikes were required to service the huge public debt of 10 trillion shillings (£60bn), equal to roughly 70% of GDP, as reported by AFP.

The International Monetary Fund has urged the country to implement fiscal reforms to access key funding. The Kenyan President had already rolled back some tax measures after the protests began.