‘RutoMustGo’: Kenya braces for fresh protests after dozens killed in anti-tax demos

Kenyan youths gestures at policemen as they march in memory of protesters killed during the nationwide deadly protest against a controversial now-withdrawn tax bill that left over 20 dead and shocked the East African nation, in Nairobi on 30 June 2024. (Simon Maina/AFP)

• Kenya is experiencing significant unrest due to anti-tax
  hike demonstrations that have led to dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries.
• Despite President William Ruto’s decision not to sign the
  controversial finance bill into law, activists continue to protest, demanding
  his unconditional resignation.
• The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights reported
  that the protests have resulted in 39 deaths, 361 injuries, and numerous cases
  of excessive force by law enforcement.

Kenya was
bracing on Tuesday for fresh protest action against the government after
anti-tax hike demonstrations last month descended into violence that left
dozens of people dead.

Activists
have stepped up their campaign against President William Ruto despite his
announcement last week that he would not sign into law a controversial finance
bill that triggered what he has branded “treasonous” protests.

The Kenya
National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) said on Monday that 39 people had
been killed and 361 injured during two weeks of demonstrations, and condemned
the use of force against protesters as “excessive and
disproportionate”.

Largely
peaceful rallies against a raft of tax increases – led by mostly young Gen-Z
Kenyans on social media – turned into shocking scenes of deadly chaos on
Tuesday last week when lawmakers passed the deeply unpopular legislation.

Kenyan youths arrive at the Kenyatta National Hospital to donate blood in memory of protesters killed during the nationwide deadly protest against a controversial now-withdrawn tax bill that left over 20 dead and shocked the East African nation, in Nairobi on 30 June 2024. (Simon Maina/AFP)

AFP

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

Ruto had
said in a television interview on Sunday that 19 people had lost their lives,
but defended his decision to call in the armed forces to tackle the unrest and
insisted he did not have “blood on my hands”.

It is the
most serious crisis to confront the president since he took office in September
2022 following a deeply divisive election in a nation often considered a beacon
of stability in a turbulent region.

Ruto’s
decision on Wednesday to reverse course and scrap the tax legislation has
appeared not to have appeased his critics.

And despite
him saying he was ready to talk with young Kenyans about their grievances,
activists have vowed to pursue their protests, with leaflets posted on social
media calling for more action this week.

READ | At least 30 killed in Kenya anti-government protests – Human Rights Watch

One leaflet
with the hashtag” RutoMustGo” insisted, “We will not relent
until William Ruto unconditionally resigns.”

It declared
both Tuesday and Thursday public holidays for an “OccupyEverywhere”
movement and called on all Kenyans to stage sit-down protests on major roads in
the country on those days.

‘Unwarranted
violence’

The
state-funded KNCHR said Monday that in addition to the dead and injured in the
previous protests, there had been 32 cases of “enforced or involuntary
disappearances” and 627 arrests of protesters.

The KNCHR said:

It also
said it “strongly condemns the violent and shocking acts of lawlessness
that was exhibited by some of the protesters”, including attacks on the
parliament and other government buildings.

The body
also highlighted what it said were “unacceptable” incidents of the
“wanton destruction” of property linked to some politicians and
threats and violence against them.

READ | Hundreds attend funeral of Ibrahim Kamau,19, killed in Kenya’s anti-tax protests

Kenya’s
cash-strapped government had said previously that the tax increases were
necessary to fill its coffers and service a massive public debt of some 10
trillion shillings ($78 billion), or about 70 percent of GDP.

Ruto had
already rolled back some tax measures after the protests began, prompting the
treasury to warn of a gaping budget shortfall of 200 billion shillings ($1.6
billion).

In Sunday’s
interview, Ruto warned that the government would have to borrow another $7.7
billion because of the decision to drop the finance bill.