(Nairobi) Kenyan President William Ruto vowed Tuesday to crack down hard on “violence and lawlessness” after renewed protests against his tax plans left at least five dead, according to NGOs, and a chaotic intrusion into parliament in Nairobi.
The government announced in the evening that it had called in the army to deal with the situation, while the United States and more than a dozen European countries said they were “deeply concerned” and called for calm.
The police used tear gas, water cannons, plastic bullets and live ammunition, according to several NGOs, to disperse the demonstrators.
“Despite the government’s assurance that the right to assemble would be protected and facilitated, today’s protests have degenerated into violence,” said these NGOs, including Amnesty Kenya, in a statement announcing the toll of at least 5 dead and 31 injured. They also say they have noted 21 kidnappings of people by “uniformed or plainclothes officers” in the last 24 hours.
The main opposition coalition, Azimio, accused the government of “unleashing its brute force against the children of our country.”
“Kenya cannot afford to kill its children just because they are asking for food, jobs and a listening ear. The police must therefore immediately stop shooting innocent, peaceful and unarmed children,” Azimio stressed in a statement.
“We will provide a full, effective and rapid response to today’s treasonous events,” William Ruto told a press briefing in the capital Nairobi, saying the protests had been “hijacked by dangerous people”.
“It is not normal, or even conceivable, that criminals posing as peaceful protesters can unleash a reign of terror against the people, their elected representatives and the institutions established by our constitution, and expect not to be worried,” he added.
The Kenyan government deployed the army to support the police “in response to the security emergency” and “to this destruction and intrusion into crucial infrastructure,” Defense Secretary Aden Bare announced early in the evening.
In Washington, the White House condemned “violence in all its forms” and “called for calm,” a National Security Council spokeswoman said. “The United States is closely monitoring the situation in Nairobi,” she added.
The United States and more than a dozen European countries including Germany, France and the United Kingdom have said they are “deeply concerned” by the violence.
Tension increased during the day in the Nairobi CBD for this third demonstration in eight days by the “Occupy Parliament” movement opposed to the 2024-25 draft budget and its new taxes.
“We are the voice of youth in Kenya,” said Elizabeth Nyaberi, a 26-year-old lawyer and protester. “They tear gas us, but we don’t care. We are here to speak on behalf of our generation and those that follow.”
AFP journalists present in central Nairobi saw three lifeless people lying in pools of blood near Parliament, where a building briefly caught fire.
After initial clashes with the police around midday, demonstrators entered Parliament, where deputies had just approved amendments to the text, which must be voted on by June 30.
The police regained control of the scene after a few tens of minutes. Television images showed ransacked rooms, overturned tables, broken windows and smoking furniture strewn across gardens.
Furthermore, the internet network in Kenya had been disrupted since mid-afternoon, AFP noted.
“Significant” disruptions, confirmed NetBlocks, an organization monitoring the world’s telecommunications network, specifying that the authorities had affirmed the day before that they would not block the internet.
Other demonstrations were held in several other cities, notably in the opposition strongholds of Mombasa (east) and Kisumu (west), as well as in Eldoret (west), a large city in the Rift Valley, region of Origin of President William Ruto.
“Occupy Parliament” was launched on social networks shortly after the presentation to Parliament on June 13 of the 2024-2025 draft budget providing in particular for a 16% VAT on bread and an annual tax of 2.5% on private vehicles .
For the government, taxes are necessary to restore room for maneuver to the country, which is heavily in debt.
After initial protests, the government announced on June 18 that it was withdrawing most of the measures, but protesters are demanding the entire text be withdrawn.
The movement transformed into a broader challenge to the policies of President Ruto, who said he was ready to dialogue on Sunday.
“We are not afraid of anything,” said Stephanie Wangari, unemployed, 24: “Ruto has never kept his promises, even to provide work for young people. We are tired. Let him go.”
Before Tuesday, this mobilization had already been marked by the death of two people in Nairobi, as well as dozens of injuries and hundreds of arrests.
