Economic Hardships

The death toll from anti-tax hike protests in Kenya has risen to 13, according to the main doctors’ association. The protests, which turned violent on Tuesday, saw demonstrators ransacking parliament and police opening fire on crowds. The chaotic scenes, which included parts of parliament set ablaze and many people injured, have shocked the nation and prompted President William Ruto’s government to deploy the military.

The protests began peacefully last week, with thousands of mostly young demonstrators marching in Nairobi and other parts of the country against the tax increases. However, tensions escalated sharply on Tuesday afternoon when police fired live rounds at crowds, leading to the ransacking of the parliament complex.

Defence Minister Aden Bare Duale announced later that the army had been deployed to support the police in addressing the “security emergency” in the country. Simon Kigondu, president of the Kenya Medical Association, confirmed the death toll, noting the unprecedented level of violence against unarmed people. He stated, “So far, we have at least 13 people killed, but this is not the final number.”

The Kenyan press has highlighted the severity of the situation, with headlines such as “Deaths, mayhem” and “Pandemonium” describing the events. Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi reported treating 160 people for injuries ranging from soft tissue damage to bullet wounds.

In a late-night press briefing, President Ruto warned that his government would take a hard line against “violence and anarchy,” likening some demonstrators to “criminals.” He said, “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.”

The government has been taken aback by the intensity of opposition to its tax proposals, mainly led by young Kenyans. The protests culminated in the dramatic scenes at parliament, which were broadcast live on television. Images showed the parliament building ransacked, with burnt furniture and smashed windows.

Protest organizers urged demonstrators to walk home together and stay safe as police fired on the crowds, leaving several bodies on the ground. A heavy police presence remained around parliament on Wednesday, with the smell of tear gas lingering in the air. A policeman stationed at the broken barricades described the previous day’s events as “madness,” expressing hope for a calmer day.

International reactions to the unrest have been swift, with the White House calling for calm and several Western nations expressing shock at the violence outside the Kenyan Parliament. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and African Union Commission Chair Moussa Faki Mahamat have also voiced deep concern.

Veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga, head of the Azimio coalition, accused the government of using “brute force on our country’s children.” Human rights organizations have also accused authorities of abducting protesters. The police have not responded to requests for comment.

The protests are rooted in long-standing grievances over the rising cost of living, which intensified last week as lawmakers debated proposed tax hikes in the 2024 finance bill. The government, facing a massive debt of 10 trillion shillings ($78 billion), says the increases are necessary to service the debt. After retracting some of the more controversial proposals, the government now plans to raise fuel prices and export duties to address a budget shortfall of 200 billion shillings.

President Ruto’s decision to roll back some tax hikes has not quelled public anger, as Kenyans continue to grapple with economic hardships. The situation remains tense as the country awaits further developments.

Anaedoonline