‘You can’t kill all of us,’ Kenya protesters vow to march again

Organizers in Kenya have urged for new peaceful protests to oppose the widely disliked tax increases, following a rise in the death toll to 22 during nationwide demonstrations, according to a state-funded rights organization.

The group has promised to conduct an investigation into the matter. Tensions heightened significantly on Tuesday when police fired at protesters who had entered parliament after initially peaceful marches led by young people last week, which saw thousands marching against the tax hikes across the country.

The unexpected events resulted in certain areas of parliament being set on fire and destroyed, with hundreds of individuals injured, causing astonishment among the Kenyan population and leading President William Ruto’s administration to send in the military.

The controversial bill with increased taxes was approved by parliament on Tuesday afternoon and now awaits Ruto’s signature to be enacted.

Protesters are determined to take to the streets once more on Thursday, demanding the cancellation of the bill. We will peacefully rally tomorrow, dressed in white to honor our lost comrades, declared Hanifa Adan, the protest coordinator, on X. She defiantly stated, You can’t eradicate us all.

Protesters united under the slogan Tupatane Thursday and the #Rejectfinancebill2024 across various social media platforms.

Expressing disillusionment with the government’s actions, Steve, a 40-year-old witness to the violence at parliament on Tuesday, conveyed that they felt abandoned. Steve accused Ruto of unfairly targeting innocent individuals and vowed to participate in the upcoming march on Thursday, anticipating further unrest and disorder.

According to Roseline Odede, who leads the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, there have been 22 fatalities documented so far, prompting an upcoming inquiry.

She highlighted that this marks the highest death toll in a single day of protest, with 19 casualties reported in Nairobi alone.

Additionally, there are records of more than 300 injuries and over 50 individuals being detained. Simon Kigondu from the Kenya Medical Association expressed astonishment at the unprecedented brutality inflicted upon unarmed civilians.

On Wednesday, a representative from Nairobi’s Kenyatta National Hospital reported that 160 individuals were under medical care, with injuries ranging from soft tissue to bullet wounds.

– ‘Violence and anarchy’ –

Online, protest organizers posted about fundraising to help those injured in the protests. Ruto issued a stern warning on Tuesday night, stating that his government would crack down on violence and chaos, comparing certain protesters to criminals.

He emphasized that it is unacceptable for criminals disguised as peaceful demonstrators to cause havoc and expect no consequences.

Prior to Ruto’s statement, Defence Minister Aden Bare Duale revealed that the military had been deployed to address the security crisis in the nation.

On Wednesday morning, a significant number of police officers surrounded the parliament building, as reported by an AFP journalist who noted the lingering scent of tear gas.

One officer stationed near the damaged barricades shared with AFP that he had witnessed the chaotic events on television. It was utter chaos; we’re hopeful for a peaceful day ahead, he remarked.

– ‘Didn’t leave anything’ –

In the heart of the city’s commercial area, where demonstrations have been focused, merchants assessed the destruction.

They found everything gone, except for empty boxes. I’m uncertain how long it will take me to bounce back, said James Ng’ang’a, whose electronics store was ransacked, in an interview with AFP.

The government led by Ruto was caught off guard by the strong backlash against its tax increases. Although the protests, mainly driven by  from Gen-Z young Kenyans, have been mostly nonviolent, tensions escalated dramatically on Tuesday afternoon as police officers fired at crowds near parliament.

Protesters proceeded to break through the barricades surrounding parliament, causing chaos within the partially burning complex. Local television broadcasts captured images of destroyed furniture and shattered windows. Reporters from AFP witnessed three individuals severely injured and lying still on the ground.

– Cost of living –

The international community is deeply concerned about the unrest in Kenya, with over 10 Western countries, including the United States, expressing shock at the disturbing events outside the Kenyan Parliament.

Rights organizations have accused the authorities of kidnapping protesters. The police have not provided any comments in response to requests from AFP.

Tensions escalated last week as lawmakers discussed a bill that proposed tax increases, fueling long-standing frustrations over the high cost of living.

The financially challenged government insists that the hikes are essential to manage the nation’s substantial debt of around 10 trillion shillings ($78 billion), which accounts for approximately 70 percent of Kenya’s GDP.

With Ruto recently reversing some contentious tax increases, the treasury has cautioned about a significant deficit of 200 billion shillings in the budget.

Despite being one of East Africa’s most vibrant economies, a third of Kenya’s 52 million inhabitants struggle with poverty.