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.”
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette

States
Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future
The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.

Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Politics
2027: Over 30,000 Enugu teachers endorse Tinubu, Mbah for re-election
Mr Mba said teachers from communities across the 17 local government areas had gathered for the endorsement.

States
Gunmen kill three miners in Plateau
The incident occurred months after five miners were killed at a mining site after gunmen invaded Gero village, Gy district of the Jos South area of the state.

States
2027: Imo APC holds ‘one million-man march for Tinubu’s re-election
The party chairman urged supporters to intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.

World
Death penalty violates human dignity, Pope Leo says as U.S. announces execution of Nidal Hasan by firing squad
Court-martialled in 2013, Mr Hasan was convicted of mass murder and has remained on death row.

States
Three suspects arrested in Niger for alleged theft, vandalism
The police said the vandalised cable and a cutlass were recovered as exhibits.

Sport
Arsenal beat Leeds 2-1; Chelsea trash Bournemouth 5-1
The Blues were already two-nil up inside the opening three minutes of the match.





