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U.S., UK, others concerned as police open fire on Kenyan protesters

Protesters eventually broke into Kenya’s Parliament on Tuesday, defying police clampdowns and attacks.

• June 25, 2024
Protesting Kenyans
Protesting Kenyans [Credit: AL Jazeera]

The U.S., UK, Germany and Canadian governments have expressed concerns as Kenyan Police open live rounds on anti-Finance Bill protesters, killing at least 10 and injuring about 50 on Tuesday.

The U.S., UK, Germany, Canada, Ireland, Denmark, Netherlands, Ireland, Estonia, Sweden, Romania, Belgium, and Finland governments, in a joint statement shared on Facebook by the British High Commission, Kenya, on Tuesday, expressed their deep “concern by allegations of abductions of protestors” amid ongoing nationwide protests against tax hikes.

“As friends and partners to Kenya, we note that Kenya’s constitution guarantees the right to peaceful protest,” the statement reads.

It added, “We are deeply concerned by the violence witnessed in many parts of the country during the recent protests and are especially shocked by the scenes witnessed outside the Kenyan Parliament. We regret the tragic loss of life and injuries sustained, including by the use of live fire.”

The respective governments called “for restraint on all sides, and encourage all leaders to find peaceful solutions through constructive dialogue.”

Citing Vivian Achista, a paramedic, Reuters on Tuesday reported that at least 10 anti-Finance Bill protesters were killed by Kenyan police outside Kenya’s Parliament.

The police had killed a 24-year-old protester on Thursday. The police resorted to live rounds, seeing demonstrators defying water cannons and teargas in protests that broke out last week.

Kenyans hit the streets last Tuesday in vehement opposition to the Finance Bill, which proposes tax imposition on cars, phones, bread, and other commodities.

Protesters eventually broke into Kenya’s Parliament on Tuesday, defying police clampdowns and attacks.

Citizens TV Kenya posted videos of City Hall on fire, burning vehicles parked inside Kenyan Supreme Court premises and some protesters vandalising properties in the parliament amid nationwide protests against the Finance Bill.

Earlier on Tuesday, human rights organisation Amnesty International condemned President William Ruto’s government for secretly abducting citizens amid nationwide protests against the controversial Finance Bill.

The human rights organisation said, “Twelve abductions have taken place over the last five days, with an alarming surge last night.”

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