Protests against planned tax increases escalated into bloody situations in the Kenyan capital Nairobi on Tuesday. Hundreds of demonstrators wanted to storm parliament and the police opened fire. The result was several deaths and dozens of injuries.
Tumultuous scenes took place in front of the House of Representatives on Tuesday. Protesters overwhelmed police as they tried to storm Parliament, where flames later broke out. Police fired into the crowd after the use of tear gas and water cannon failed to disperse them. Paramedics counted at least ten deaths, a Reuters employee counted at least five. The police did not comment on this at the request of the Reuters news agency.
Government mobilizes “all resources”
Kenyan President William Ruto accused “organized criminals” of storming parliament after peaceful protests. The protests had been infiltrated and infiltrated, Ruto said in a televised address on Tuesday. “Today, Kenya has witnessed an attack on democracy and the rule of law. Today’s events are a turning point in the way we respond to serious threats to our national security,” Ruto said. The government has mobilized all resources at its disposal to ensure that the incidents do not recur, he said.
Calls for the president’s resignation
The demonstrators, who also took to the streets in several other places, opposed tax increases in a country that already struggles with high costs of living. Many Kenyans are calling for President Ruto’s resignation. He won the election almost two years ago with the aim of standing up for working poor people. But donors such as the International Monetary Fund are urging the government to reduce its budget deficit to secure more financing.
The government has already made some concessions and promised to scrap planned new taxes on bread, cooking oil, car ownership and financial transactions. But that wasn’t enough to satisfy the protesters.
Source: Krone
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