Police in Kenya fired live rounds at demonstrators in Nairobi on Tuesday, resulting in multiple deaths amid riots against the Financial Bill 2024.
Kenya riots latest news: What is the latest death toll?
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At least five people were shot dead as Kenyan police used live ammunition to disperse demonstrators protesting against the Financial Bill 2024 in Nairobi.
According to reports, the violence erupted during a nationwide “total shutdown” protest, which quickly turned violent.
Eyewitnesses reported witnessing two bodies lying motionless on the ground amid the chaos.
In addition to the fatalities, approximately 31 individuals sustained injuries, with 13 hit by live bullets, four by rubber bullets, and three by launcher canisters.
A joint statement from Amnesty International Kenya, the Kenya Medical Association, the Law Society of Kenya, and the Police Reforms Working Group Kenya confirmed these figures and highlighted numerous incidents of human rights violations during the protests.
Watch: Barack Obama’s sister tear-gassed
Auma Obama, the half-sister of former US President Barack Obama, was tear-gassed by police while giving an interview to CNN on Tuesday.
The incident occurred as she protested against the Financial Bill 2024 in Nairobi.
Dramatic footage captured by a CNN team showed Obama and a group of young protesters being tear-gassed during the live broadcast. “I can’t even see anymore, we’re being tear-gassed,”
Obama exclaimed during the interview. As a Kenyan-British activist, Obama was advocating against the bill alongside other demonstrators when the police intervened with tear gas.
Why the Financial Bill 2024 caused the Kenya riots
The Financial Bill 2024, which aims to raise $2.7 billion in additional taxes to reduce Kenya’s budget deficit and state borrowing, has sparked widespread outrage and protests across the country.
The bill’s introduction comes as Kenya’s public debt stands at 68% of GDP, surpassing the 55% recommended by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The proposed tax hikes, intended to address the fiscal imbalance, have been met with strong opposition from citizens, leading to the “7 Days of Rage” protest movement.
The protests have seen significant upheaval, including the storming and setting ablaze of Kenya’s parliament building.
Protesters also stole the ceremonial mace from the parliament. Kenyan lawmakers present during the incident managed to escape through an underground channel, according to NTV Kenya.
Despite government assurances that the right to assembly would be protected, the protests have escalated into violence, with numerous reports of human rights violations and excessive force used by the police.
As Kenya braces for more days of protests and potential unrest, the situation remains tense with widespread condemnation of the government’s handling of the demonstrations.