Kenyan Police Shoot Youths Who Are Opposing

Kenyan Police Shoot Youths Who Are Opposing Tax Increases With Rubber Bullets

As protesters staged rallies across the nation over proposed tax hikes, tensions increased on Tuesday when Kenyan police used tear gas and rubber

bullets to scatter young protestors in the nation’s capital, Nairobi, according to AFP reporters.

The majority-Gen-Z led protests, which erupted last week, have taken the administration of President William Ruto by surprise.

Over the weekend, the Kenyan leader praised the demonstrators’ “peaceful” conduct and stated he was ready to speak with them.

However, a significant police presence greeted hundreds of chanting protestors in Nairobi’s business sector early on Tuesday.

Access to parliament, where MPs are discussing a finance measure that contains the tax ideas, was barred by officers dressed in full riot gear.

According to AFP reporters, protesters yelled, “We are peaceful,” as police opened fire on the throng with rubber bullets and tear gas.

Last week, protesters around the country staged marches in response to a cost-of-living crisis, demanding the repeal of the finance package.

By June 30, Parliament must cast a vote on the legislation.

Officers wearing full riot gear blocked access to parliament, where lawmakers are debating a fiscal bill that includes the tax proposals.

Protesters shouted, “We are peaceful,” as police fired rubber bullets and tear gas into the crowd, according to AFP reporters.

A cost-of-living issue prompted demonstrators around the nation to march last week, calling for the financing package to be repealed.

Parliament has to vote on the legislation by June 30.

While Ruto noted on Sunday in his first public remarks about the protests that they had been largely peaceful, several organisations,

including Amnesty International Kenya, said that at least 200 people had been wounded in last week’s protests in Nairobi. The Independent Policing

Oversight Authority watchdog and rights groups reported that two people had died after Thursday’s rallies in Nairobi.

On Tuesday, the Kenya chapter of Amnesty International wrote on X that “the pattern of policing protests is deteriorating fast” and urged the government to uphold the right of protestors to assemble.

Prior to the protests on Monday, the human rights organisation declared Kenya to be “at a crossroads.”

It added that “the escalation of force could lead to more fatalities and legal repercussions” and that “the protests have continued to grow,

emphasising the public’s widespread discontent despite mass arrests and injuries.”

Human rights advocates have charged that the government is kidnapping demonstrators against the measure.

The Kenya Human Rights Commission demanded the “unconditional release of all abductees,” stating that the majority of the kidnappings had happened at night and

that the perpetrators had “conducted by police officers in civilian clothes and unmarked cars.”

When AFP asked the police for comment on the accusations, they did not reply.

In addition to using unusual strategies, the protesters have asked pubs to cease playing music at midnight on the weekends when revellers erupted in slogans of “Ruto must go” and “Reject finance bill.”

Some leaders of the Anglican and Catholic churches have expressed support for their actions.

Debt mountain: Last Monday, the financially constrained government decided to reverse a number of tax increases.

However, it still plans to increase other taxes, claiming that doing so will help the state’s finances and reduce its reliance on outside borrowing.

Due to a decline in the value of the local currency over the past two years, Kenya has a massive mountain of debt whose servicing costs have skyrocketed, making interest payments on foreign-currency

The tax increases would put additional strain on Kenyans, as many young people will still be unable to obtain well-paying work.

Following the government’s decision to remove taxes on bread purchases, automobile ownership, financial services, and mobile devices,

the Treasury issued a warning about a 200 billion shilling ($1.56 billion) budget deficit.

To make up for the gap left by the reforms, the government now plans to raise export taxes and fuel prices, a move that critics claim will

increase living expenses in a nation already suffering from high inflation.

Despite having one of the most vibrant economies in all of Africa, Kenya’s 52 million citizens live in poverty.