Tension gripped Kenya’s cities on Wednesday, a day after Protesters against new taxes The attack on parliament and the burning of parts of its premises were described by President William Ruto as an “existential threat” to the East African nation, prompting him to deploy the military.
In the center of the capital Nairobi, the air was still thick with the smell of tear gas after protesters clashed with police. Large rocks and a burned car were scattered next to the city hall offices that protesters had stormed. Across the street, a fence at the entrance to the Supreme Court building was destroyed.
Police also blocked the street leading to Parliament to pedestrians.
Even as businesses across Kenya slowly reopened, newspapers sold on the streets of Nairobi chronicled the previous day’s chaotic scenes. “Total chaos,” read the front page of the Daily Nation. “Death, mayhem, anger,” declared The Star.
At least five people were killed and 31 injured in the protests, according to Amnesty International and several prominent Kenyan civil society groups. The figures could not be immediately confirmed, and some activists said on Wednesday that the actual death toll could be higher.
There are also some people Make an appeal on social media Information about friends, colleagues and family members who were last seen at Tuesday’s protest.
Activists said kidnappings, which occurred in the days before the demonstrations, continued after they ended. Faith Odhiambo, president of the Kenya Bar Association, said about 50 young Kenyans had been kidnapped. She said they had spoken out against tax increases and had been threatened, followed and had their communications monitored. Among those kidnapped was Ms. Odhiambo’s personal assistant, who In a statement.
Human rights groups have long accused Kenyan police of kidnappings and extrajudicial disappearances. The kidnappings have shocked the country. That prompted Chief Justice Martha Koome to censure them on Tuesday..
Judge Qom called for the detainees to be brought to court within 24 hours and urged the judiciary to properly investigate and address any charges. She said the kidnappings were “a direct violation of the rule of law, human rights and constitutionalism, which are the guiding values of our country.”
Two kidnapped persons released The missing people were found on Tuesday, according to Ms. Odiambo. But others remain missing, including Gabriel Oguda, an activist and policy analyst, and Kasmuel McOure, a musician and activist whom The New York Times interviewed in the past few days. Ms. Odhiambo said.
A prominent protester who spoke on condition of anonymity said Wednesday that he had been kidnapped and was in hiding. The protester said several men tried to put him in a car near his home but he fled after people surrounded them.
Tuesday’s protest was the largest yet against a finance bill introduced by the Ruto government last month that seeks to raise revenue through additional taxes. The government says the bill is necessary not only to pay off the country’s high debt but also to cover the costs of initiatives such as roads, rural electrification and agricultural subsidies.
But the legislation triggered Widespread discontent The public is unhappy with the bill, with opponents arguing that it will significantly increase the cost of living. Point out the luxurious lifestyle The protests have targeted Ruto and members of his government and called on officials to curb spending. Observers say young protesters To a large extent initiated and directed the demonstrationsThey are also angry about the indifference of some leaders in responding to their concerns.
As lawmakers debated and voted on the bill on Tuesday, protesters in Nairobi marched to Parliament, urging them to back down. But Ruto’s coalition, which holds a majority in Parliament, quickly passed the bill.
Soon after, tensions spread throughout the city, with large crowds pouring into the parliament, climbing over the city walls, and looting parts of the facility. Defense Minister Aden Duale said he would deploy troops Support the police in responding to the country’s “security emergency”.
An hour later, Ruto struck an uncompromising tone in a televised address, calling the protests “an act of treason” and blaming the violence on “criminals masquerading as peaceful protesters.”
“I want to assure the nation that this government has mobilised every resource at the disposal of the nation to ensure that this does not happen again at any cost,” Mr Ruto said.
On Wednesday, political leaders and human rights groups urged the president to de-escalate the situation. Raila Odinga, the opposition leader who lost to Ruto in the 2022 election, called on the president to repeal the bill and engage in dialogue with the protesters.
“Kenya cannot kill children simply because they ask for food, jobs and to be heard,” Mr. Odinga said. In a statement.
