At Least 39 Killed In Kenya's Tax Hike Protests: Rights Watchdog

At least 39 people have been killed in the anti-government protests in Kenya over the past two weeks. This data was revealed by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR). The activists have reportedly geared up for a new round of protests this week in the East African country.

An Al Jazeera report says that the toll revealed by KNCHR is almost double the figure previously disclosed by the government. Kenya witnessed a mass protest against a raft of unpopular tax increases that have now been withdrawn. The controversial finance bill of the government included levies on bread, vegetable oil, and sugar, mobile money transfers, and some imports. Al Jazeera, citing KNCHR, also reported that 361 people have been injured “in relation to the protests countrywide." KNCHR also noted that the figures covered the period from June 18 to July 1. In addition to this, there had been 627 arrests of protesters.

Earlier on Sunday, in a televised interview, Kenya’s President William Ruto said that 19 people had died in the protests. "I have no blood on my hands," Ruto said in the interview, adding that there will be an investigation into the deaths. Kenya’s cash-strapped government, led by Ruto, is currently confronting the most serious crisis since he took office in September 2022. He became president by defeating his main rival by a narrow margin in the election.