By Enyichukwu Enemanna
A High Court in Kenya has granted the request seeking the use of military force to restore order, arising from several days of anti-tax protest in which police are said to be overwhelmed.
Heritage Times HT reports that this comes after the East African leader, William Ruto, had announced the withdrawal of the controversial tax law, which has sparked raft of demonstrations in the capital, Nairobi and other cities, leading to at least 20 deaths.
The protesters have refused to vacate the streets, in apparent lack of trust with authorities over the withdrawal of the Bill passed into law by the parliament on Tuesday and waiting presidential assent. Ruto announced that he will not sign the bill seeking to raise tax.
Armoured personnel carriers belonging to the military patrolled the streets of Nairobi on Thursday as police fired tear gas to disperse protesters.
The demonstrators, mostly young men, had threatened to storm the presidential palace. They had earlier stormed the parliamentary building following the passage of the bill, in which several persons were killed.
A judge said that the military deployment was critical to protect government installations but gave the authorities two days to clarify how long the deployment would last, along with its rules of engagement.
“To deploy the military in a blanket manner without defining their scope of operation and the duration of their operation is a dangerous trend that can bring about militarisation of the country,” ruled Justice Lawrence Mugambi.
The Law Society of Kenya had petitioned the court to order the army back to the barracks. It says though it “respects but disagrees” with the ruling.
Isaac Mwaura, the government spokesman said the withdrawal of the bill was a “huge blow to the government as it left a “big hole” in the budget.
“It is really a big setback,” Mr Mwaura said, blaming “misinformed” Kenyans for opposing it.
“There was a very well choreographed campaign, both locally and internationally, to misinform and disinform people so that they can create a revolt,” he added.
Heritage Times HT recalls that the new finance bill was aimed at raising taxes to help pay up part of the the country’s debt. This is in line with the demands by lenders, including the International Monetary Fund.
After announcing the withdrawal, Ruto also promised an austerity measures but the people are not convinced it will be implemented.
The youths are also angered by reports of arbitrary abductions of protesters and the killing of at least 23 people, according to a doctors’ association. Some are now calling on the president to step down.
