Street Protests Against Tax Increases in Kenya Leave Dozens Dead and Injured

Human Rights Watch stated in a statement that dozens were killed in a shooting by Kenyan security forces at a crowd of protesters that occurred on Tuesday, July 6. Some of the protesters who were shot at were fleeing. According to Agence France-Presse, the exact number of casualties in Nairobi, the capital, and other cities is still unclear, but Human Rights Watch reported on Saturday, July 9, that based on witness statements, publicly available information, and hospital and morgue records in Nairobi, the number of fatalities is likely at least 30. This NGO quoted a human rights activist in Nairobi as saying, "Eight military officers came out and shot at the people. They killed several individuals, including those who were not among the protesters." The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, which is government-funded, also reported 22 deaths and 300 injuries and announced that investigations would begin in this regard. According to Otsieno Namwaya, Africa director at Human Rights Watch, direct shooting at protesters, including when they are trying to flee, is unacceptable. He stated that Kenyan authorities must clearly inform their security forces that their duty is to protect protesters during peaceful demonstrations and that they can no longer turn a blind eye to the impunity of police violence. The International Monetary Fund, based in Washington, had previously asked Kenya to implement financial reforms in the country to access vital funding from the fund. After pressure from the IMF, Kenyan lawmakers eventually voted to increase taxes, but in response, largely peaceful protests erupted on Tuesday, which gradually turned violent. Protesters stormed the parliament building after the final vote was announced, and fires broke out in clashes described as unprecedented in the country's history since independence from Britain in 1963. Ultimately, these protests led to President William Ruto's government retracting the tax increase bill. Following the cancellation of some tax measures by William Ruto, the treasury warned of a massive budget deficit of about $1.6 billion. The Kenyan government, facing severe cash shortages, had previously stated that the tax increase was necessary to pay off the country's enormous debt, estimated at approximately 10 trillion shillings ($78 billion), which is about 70% of the country's GDP. According to the Africa director at Human Rights Watch, "The widespread anger [of the people] should serve as a wake-up call for the Kenyan government and the IMF that they cannot sacrifice human rights under the pretext of economic improvement." Previously, the United Nations had also urged Kenya to exercise restraint against protesters. Stéphane Dujarric, a spokesperson for the organization, said on Tuesday to reporters, "We are following what is happening in Nairobi and Kenya, and António Guterres, the Secretary-General, is deeply concerned about the reported violence related to these protests and street demonstrations."