At least 30 killed in anti-government protests in Kenya: HRW June 30, 2024

Demonstrators run away from tear gas at a planned rally, called after a deadly nationwide protest against a controversial tax bill, now withdrawn, in downtown Nairobi on June 27, 2024. | Photo credit: AFP

By AFP - Agence France Presse

At least 30 killed in anti-government protests in Kenya: HRW

At least 30 people have died in protests in Kenya this week, sparked by a government initiative to substantially increase taxes in the East African country, Human Rights Watch said on Saturday.

"Kenyan security forces fired directly into crowds of protesters on (Tuesday) June 25, 2024, including protesters who were fleeing," the NGO said in a statement.

"While there is no confirmation on the exact number of people killed in Nairobi and other cities, Human Rights Watch found that at least 30 people were killed that day based on witness accounts, publicly available information, hospital, and funeral records in Nairobi, as well as witness accounts," the statement said.

"Firing directly into crowds without justification, including when protesters try to flee, is completely unacceptable under Kenyan and international law," said Otsieno Namwaya, associate Africa director at Human Rights Watch.

"The Kenyan authorities need to make it clear to their forces that they must protect peaceful protesters and that impunity for police violence can no longer be tolerated," Namwaya added.

The largely peaceful demonstrations turned violent on Tuesday when lawmakers approved the deeply unpopular tax increases following pressure from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

After the vote was announced, crowds stormed the parliament complex and a fire broke out in clashes unprecedented in the country's history since its independence from Britain in 1963.

President William Ruto's government eventually withdrew the bill.

The state-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights said it had recorded 22 deaths and 300 injured victims, adding that it would launch an investigation.

"Eight military officers came out and simply opened fire on people. They killed several people, including those who were not part of the protests," HRW said, quoting a human rights activist in Nairobi.

"Kenya's international partners must continue to actively monitor the situation (...) and further urge the Kenyan authorities to promptly, but credibly and transparently, investigate abuses committed by the security forces," the human rights watchdog said.

Ruto had already reversed some fiscal measures after the protests began, prompting the treasury to warn of a budget deficit of 200 billion shillings ($1.6 billion).

The cash-strapped government had previously said that the increases were necessary to service Kenya's huge debt of around 10 trillion shillings (US$78 billion), equivalent to approximately 70% of GDP.

The Washington-based IMF called on the country to implement fiscal reforms to access crucial funding from the international lender.

"The bill was expected to raise an additional $2.3 billion in the next fiscal year, in part to meet the IMF's demands for increased revenues," said HRW.

"The widespread outrage should be a wake-up call to the Kenyan government and the IMF that they cannot sacrifice rights in the name of economic recovery," said Namwaya.

"Economic sustainability can only be achieved by building a new social contract that raises revenues fairly, manages them responsibly, and funds services and programs that protect the rights of all."

sva/ach/smw