Kenya: Anti-tax protest degenerates; results in loss of lives, property

The vote on the controversial finance bill was marred by violence and resulted in the loss of life and property.

This prompted the defence minister to deploy the army and President William Ruto to address the nation.

“Today’s events marked a critical turning point in how we respond to grave threats to our national security. I assure the nation that the government has mobilised all resources at the nation’s disposal to ensure that a situation of this nature will not recur again, at whatever cost.”

Demonstrators reportedly tried to storm the State House in the western city of Nakuru and burned ruling party offices in Embu in central Kenya.

The Kenya Law Society President, Faith Odhiambo, said earlier Tuesday that 50 Kenyans, including her personal assistant, had been “abducted” by people believed to be police officers.

Some of those missing included those who were vocal in the demonstrations and were taken from their homes, workplaces, and public spaces ahead of Tuesday’s protests, according to civil society groups.

Police officials did not immediately return calls seeking comment. Parliament Speaker Moses Wetangula had directed the inspector general of police to provide information on the whereabouts of those reportedly abducted.

Is dialogue possible?

During the address of President William Ruto, he promised the Kenyan youth to provide a framework for a conversation to be processed and its outcomes to be implemented.

“However, our national conversations on any subject matter must be conducted in a manner that respects and honours the foundational values upon which our nation is established: constitutionalism, the rule of law, and respect for institutions,” he said.

The leader has two weeks to sign the controversial finance bill into law.

The chairperson of the African Union commission called on Tuesday (Jun. 25) for national stakeholders to engage in constructive dialogue.

His administration did drop some tax proposals from the bill last week, but frustrations over the high cost of living remained.

In Nairobi, a regional hub for expatriates and home to a major United Nations complex, inequality among Kenyans has sharpened, along with long-held frustrations over state corruption.

Last year’s finance law introduced a 1.5% housing tax on gross income for salaried individuals and doubled the VAT tax on petroleum products from 8 to 16%.

Source: Africa News