Kenyan tax protests resulted in one death and nearly 200 injuries

An coalition of rights groups and the police watchdog stated that during Thursday’s statewide protests against the government’s plans to raise an additional $2.7 billion in taxes, one person was killed and at least 200 people were hurt throughout Kenya.

The five rights organizations, which include Amnesty International and the Kenya Medical Association, said in a joint statement late on Thursday that police used water cannons and tear gas to scatter protestors in the nation’s capital, Nairobi.

They said that the presence of expended cartridges suggested the use of live ammunition and that over 100 demonstrators had been taken into custody throughout Kenya.

A man’s death, “allegedly as a result of police shooting and several serious injuries suffered by other demonstrators including police officers,” was reported by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) on Friday.

According to a police report seen by Reuters, the 29-year-old guy passed away on Thursday night at a hospital while receiving treatment for a wound on his thigh. How he was hurt was not mentioned in the report.

Adamson Bungei, the commander of Nairobi County Police, did not return calls.

“We commend the several thousands of protesters, many of whom are youthful, for picketing peacefully (and) exhibiting restraint and decorum despite provocation by police,” said rights organizations.

The government is being urged by protestors to drop its proposed finance bill entirely, claiming it will cripple the economy and drive up living expenses for Kenyans who are already having a hard time getting by.

However, in order to lower the budget deficit and state borrowing, the government must raise revenues, according to the International Monetary Fund.

President William Ruto endorsed recommendations earlier this week to remove some of the additional taxes, including those on financial transactions, bread, cooking oil, and car ownership, signaling a slight softening of the government’s stance.

The disputed tax plans are now moving on to the next round of approval because lawmakers approved the finance bill on Thursday during its second reading, in spite of the large protests that occurred in 19 of Kenya’s 47 counties.

The proposed modifications to the bill, which the parliament’s budget committee claims would blow a 200 billion Kenyan shilling ($1.56 billion) hole in the 2024–25 budget and force the government to undertake spending cuts, are set to be put to a vote by lawmakers on Tuesday.