By Ebi Kesiena
On Wednesday, Kenyan Police fired tear gas at demonstrators who had defied a ban on opposition rallies to protest against rising prices and new government taxes.
In the capital Nairobi, shops were closed with heavy police surveillance, while in Mathare slum, police fired tear gas at demonstrators, who threw stones at them. They also used them to disperse demonstrators in the southern port city of Mombasa.
Recall that at the beginning of July, President William Ruto promulgated a finance bill introducing a series of new taxes, despite criticism from the opposition and the population of a country hit by high inflation.
In particular, the law provides for an increase in VAT on fuel from 8% to 16%, as well as an unpopular levy on salaries to finance a low-cost housing programme. Initially planned at 3%, it has been reduced to 1.5%.
Despite warnings from the Police Chief as at Tuesday, the protesters came out for the protest.
On Tuesday, the head of the national police force banned demonstrations called by the opposition, on the grounds that the latter had not informed the authorities, and invited the population not to join these “illegal gatherings”.
Last Friday, demonstrations against the government of President Ruto took place in several cities in response to a call from opposition leader Raila Odinga.
At least three people were killed following the demonstrations, according to hospital and police sources. Kenya’s National Human Rights Commission has called for a “thorough investigation into all reported cases of ‘police brutality’”.
On Saturday, activists claimed that police fired tear gas at civil society representatives, including former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, who were demanding the release of dozens of people arrested during the protests.
However, Odinga’s Azimio alliance has vowed to stage protests every week against the tax policies of President William Ruto’s government.
