The United Nations expressed sadness over killings during anti-Finance Bill protesters in Kenya, urging President William Ruto to listen to the voices of young protesters.

Amid raging protests and police clampdown on protesters in Kenya on Thursday, a United Nations Human Rights tweet called for restraint for protesters to express their grievances. 

“#Kenya: Saddened by recent deaths and injuries in context of protests, UN Human Rights Chief @volker_turk urges restraint to facilitate the rights to peaceful assembly and expression, and dialogue to listen to the voices of young people. Investigations and accountability essential,” United Nations Human Rights said.

This came after Mr Ruto bowed to public pressure, announcing the withdrawal of the controversial Finance Bill in a live broadcast on Wednesday. 

Nationwide protest against Fiance Bill broke out last week but took a bloody turn as armed forces opened fire on protesters.

Amnesty International, in a statement on Wednesday, said 23 were killed as police shot at protesters on Tuesday, about 200 were injured, while 50 were abducted. 

The human organisation accused Mr Ruto of overseeing the killing of unarmed demonstrators, calling for his trial at the International Criminal Court. 

On Thursday, Kenyan youth returned to the streets in a #OccupyStateHouse, after Mr Ruto’s withdrawal of the controversial bill, which proposed the imposition of a tax on cars, phones, bread, sanitary pads, and other commodities. 

Defying military and police deployed on the streets of Kenya, hundreds of youths converged on Kisumu, Mombasa, one of the largest cities in the country, and Nairobi to express their displeasure with Mr Ruto’s government.