According to a human rights commision and an official source, protests over increased taxes in Kenya that were forcibly halted on Wednesday resulted in nine fatalities and more than 300 arrests.
Looting and altercations between protesters and police, during which the latter used live ammunition and tear gas to defend themselves as the former threw stones, broke up these gatherings that were held in several places across the nation.
Police have come under fire for using tear gas against bystanders, including students at a school, and have been accused of being cruel.
The Azimio alliance, led by opposition leader Raila Odinga, declared on Thursday that it will begin its rallies “on Wednesday, July 19, 2023,” promising to keep up the protests until its fight over the cost of life was resolved.
According to the Kenya National Commission for Human Rights (KNCHR), an impartial organization, nine people were slain the day before amid a fresh day of opposition mobilization. KNCHR told AFP that its report was based on a police tally.
The Commission demanded probes into instances of looting and police abuse while stating that the nation was “on the verge of anarchy.”
Four people were killed in Mlolongo, a Nairobi suburb, and five more perished in various Kenyan towns, according to the KNCHR, while numerous more, including law enforcement officers, were hurt.
The KNCHR “strongly condemns the excessive force used by the police when arresting protesters,” according to a statement. Although maintaining law and order is important, it must never come at the expense of an individual’s rights or fundamental freedoms.
The Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA), for its part, declared on Thursday that an investigation into “reported deaths resulting from gunshot wounds” as well as other occurrences that resulted in casualties or property damage, had been launched.
A man who was slain in fights between competing factions in Sondu, on the border between Kericho and Kisumu, the latter of which is an Odinga stronghold, according to police, is one of the casualties.
For his part, Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki denounced “hooliganism” and “lawlessness,” saying that “312 people who directly or indirectly planned, orchestrated, or financed the violent demonstrations and acts of lawlessness (on Wednesday) have been arrested and will be prosecuted for various criminal offences.”
“The hunt for additional perpetrators (of this violence) is on,” he continued.
The experienced leader of the Kenyan opposition and multiple times unsuccessful candidate for president, Raila Odinga, claimed on Wednesday that police had “shot, injured, and killed demonstrators” as the catalyst for the anti-government uprising. in particular in Nairobi.
The Interior Minister promised that “this culture of impunity” will “end” while denouncing “generalised violence” and “looting” on Wednesday. These incidents happened a few days following other, deadly protests against President William Ruto’s administration in various towns around the nation.
According to the Interior Ministry, at least six individuals were slain last Friday during these protests. Then, NGOs condemned the brutal police crackdown.
