Kenyan President William Ruto made a statement after the protests against the tax increase turned into violence. Ruto stated that the protests were infiltrated and hijacked by organized criminals and emphasized that necessary measures will be taken against those who threaten the security of the public.
While Ruto thanked the youth opposing the tax increase for starting a timely debate, he stated that the protests should be carried out peacefully within the framework of the rule of law. He also stated that it was unacceptable for criminals masquerading as peaceful prosecutors to terrorize the public.
Opposition leader Raila Odinga called for the immediate withdrawal of the tax increase bill, criticized the police intervention in the protests, and emphasized that taxation policies should be fair.
The Army took to the streets in support of the police
As violent protests continued in Kenya, the army took to the streets as a result of the inadequacy of the police. Defense Minister Aden Duale announced that the army has been deployed to provide support to the police to control the security situation. This step aims to protect the country’s critical infrastructure.
Consequences of the Protests
It was reported that at least 5 people died and 31 people were injured as a result of the protests in the capital Nairobi. While the demonstrators expressed their reactions against the tax increases, the events became more violent with the use of real bullets during the police intervention.
It was also stated that Kenyan activist Auma Obama, the half-sister of former US President Barack Obama, also participated in the protests.
