Riots and protests in Kenya, police shoot dead 5 people

In chaotic scenes in the capital Nairobi, protesters overpowered police and tried to force their way into the parliament building, after which violence broke out. Protests and clashes also took place in several other cities and towns across Kenya, with many calling for Mr Ruto to resign and protesting against tax increases.

Protesters throw stones at Kenyan security forces during a demonstration in downtown Nairobi on June 25, 2024. Photo: AFP

In a televised address to the nation, President Ruto said the tax debate had been “hijacked by dangerous people”, pledging a swift response to Tuesday’s “treasonous events”.

Police in Nairobi opened fire after tear gas and water cannons failed to disperse the crowd. Local media said they eventually drove protesters out of Kenya's parliament and lawmakers were evacuated through a tunnel.

Late on Tuesday, Kenya's Defence Minister Aden Duale said the army had been deployed to help police deal with a "security emergency" that had led to "the destruction and defacement of critical infrastructure".

The Kenya Medical Association said at least five people were shot dead while treating the injured and 31 others were injured, 13 of them with live ammunition and four with rubber bullets.

President Ruto won elections nearly two years ago on a platform of supporting Kenya’s working poor, but has been caught between demands from lenders like the International Monetary Fund, which are urging the country to cut its deficit to get more funding.

Kenyans are struggling to cope with a number of economic shocks due to the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, war in Ukraine, two consecutive years of drought and a depreciating currency.

The finance bill aims to raise an additional $2.7 billion in taxes as part of efforts to ease Kenya's debt burden, of which interest payments alone consume 37 percent of the annual budget.

Ambassadors and high commissioners from countries including the UK, US and Germany in Kenya said in a joint statement they were deeply concerned by the violence and called on all sides to exercise restraint.

Kenyan activist Auma Obama, the half-sister of former US President Barack Obama, was among protesters pepper-sprayed during the protests, a CNN interview has revealed.

The Kenyan parliament has passed the finance bill. The next step is to send it to President Ruto for his signature. However, the Kenyan government has made some concessions, promising to scrap proposed new taxes on bread, cooking oil, car ownership and financial transactions. But that is not enough for protesters.

The Kenyan finance ministry said the concessions would cost about 200 billion Kenyan shillings ($1.56 billion) in the 2024-25 budget and force the Kenyan government to cut spending or raise taxes elsewhere.

Huy Hoang (according to Reuters, CNN, AFP)

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