Kenya: Ruto’s government declares tax protesters wanted
Kenyan authorities on Tuesday declared some anti-Finance bill protesters wanted as the protests run into its third week.
Kenyan police posted a photo of some of the protesters wanted, accusing them of “unlawful activities” during the protests.
“The individuals whose images/photos appear below are wanted by the police for their unlawful activities during the anti-finance bill demonstrations,” the police said on X.
The police asked all declared wanted protesters to turn themselves in to the nearest police station for “further police action.”
In response to the police announcement, some Kenyans on X berated Kenyan police for ignoring its men opening live bullets on protesters and goons hired to disrupt the protests.
An X user, @Arega_michael, asked, “What about the goons? Or those ones you’re already in touch?”
Another netizen, @cullenndugu, said, “What about the killer cops?”
For weeks straight, Kenyan youth have hit the streets, destroying commercial activities across the country in protest against the Finance Bill, which imposes a tax on some commodities.
Last Wednesday, President William Ruto withdrew the bill after protests turned bloody as police opened live rounds on protesters.
However, Mr Ruto did not placate the angry demonstrators, who have doubled down on the protests and are calling for his resignation.
On Tuesday, hundreds of youth carrying coffins shut down Nairobi in the # RutoMustGo protest, defying police clampdown. Protests were also held in Mombasa, Kisii, Kisumu, Migori-Rongo, and other parts of the country.
Kenya National Commission on Human Rights reported that 39 people have been killed as police clamped down on protesters between June 18 and July 1.
The commission added that 361 persons have been injured, and 32 cases of enforced disappearances have been recorded since anti-finance bill protests broke out in the country on June 18.
The commission’s number of causalities contradicts Mr Ruto’s. In an interview on Sunday, he said that 19 were killed during the protests.
Mr Ruto also said he has no blood on his hands in a pushback against accusations that he watched police killing citizens before withdrawing the bill.
“I have no blood on my hands,” Mr Ruto said on Sunday. “Nineteen people are dead to the record that I have from security agencies. Very unfortunate. As a democracy, that should not be part of our conversation.”
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