The leader of the Kenyan opposition coalition Azimio La Umoja, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, accused the country’s government of killing protesters against tax increases and called on it to withdraw the finance bill.
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Earlier, Kenyan media, citing doctors, reported that at least eight people were killed and 50 injured during protests against tax increases in Kenya.
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“Kenya cannot afford to kill its children just because they are asking for food, work and to be heard. Therefore, the police must immediately stop shooting innocent, peaceful and unarmed child protesters who are demanding government guarantees for a better future… The starting point for breaking this impasse and brutal bloodshed is the government’s immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the financial bill and the creation of conditions for a new dialogue,” the Azimio opposition coalition said in a statement published on Raila Odinga’s social media account.
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He also said Kenyan police are detaining and surveilling boys and girls who “just want to be heard on tax policy.” Instead of listening to young people, government officials “reject and ridicule every opinion” and silence dissenters with “cruelty and murder,” he said. He also called on the government to immediately stop the violence and arrest all police who shot at protesters.
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Earlier, local TV channel KTN News reported that Raila Odinga is calling on the international community to intervene in the situation in Kenya due to ongoing protests that have resulted in riots.
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A new wave of protests in Kenya over government plans to increase taxes on a number of goods and services began in mid-June. Later, Agence France-Presse reported that amendments were made to the draft budget, according to which the introduction of a 16 percent value added tax on the purchase of bread, the transportation of sugar, the use of mobile and financial services, transactions with foreign currency, as well as the introduction of a tax of 2.5 % on motor vehicles and excise tax on vegetable oil. Kenyan President William Ruto announced the government’s readiness to begin a dialogue with the protesters. Nevertheless, the protests continued, with two deaths and at least 200 injuries reported. Police use tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters.
