In response to a request for a nationwide shutdown by youth protestors, Kenya prepared for a nationwide strike on Tuesday as momentum builds against the government’s proposed tax rises.
President William Ruto’s administration was caught off guard by the primarily Gen-Z-led protests, despite the Kenyan leader’s declaration over the weekend that he was prepared to engage with the demonstrators.
Last week, protests around the country over the already high cost of living broke out due to the Ruto administration’s proposed tax increases in the yearly budget bill, which the parliament must vote on by June 30.
When Ruto addressed the protesters in public for the first time on Sunday, he pointed out that they were largely peaceful.
However, rights organizations and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) watchdog reported that two fatalities had occurred as a result of the Thursday protests.
“We’re past the talking stage and won’t be silenced. We demand an end to police violence, respect for our constitutional rights, and the freedom to speak up without fear of arrest or harm,” Hanifa Adan told AFP Sunday.
Several organisations, including Amnesty International Kenya, said at least 200 people were wounded in the protests in Nairobi.
“The country stands at a crossroads,” Amnesty’s Kenya chapter said in a statement Monday.
“Despite mass arrests and injuries, the protests have continued to grow, emphasising the public’s widespread discontent.”
Amnesty added that the movement leaves government and police at a “critical juncture, where the escalation of force could lead to more fatalities and legal repercussions.”
