A medical official and local media reported on Wednesday that many people were shot in Kenya, some of whom may have died, as security forces and protesters across the nation battled over the country’s high cost of living and tax increases.
Witnesses claimed that while security forces were firing volleys of tear gas, protesters were throwing rocks at police and setting tyres on fire in the streets. The opposition has called for a third round of anti-government protests this month.
According to the interior ministry and an opposition lawyer, police detained at least 300 people around the nation, including nine key opposition members.
Nairobi, the nation’s capital, Mombasa, a port city, and Kisumu, the third-largest city in the nation, all had closed schools. The majority of businesses in Nairobi’s city centre were closed, and police had set up checkpoints on the roads leading to State House, President William Ruto’s official residence.
Ruto was elected last August on the promise to eradicate the poor conditions of the lower sections of the society, but since taking office, the cost of necessities has increased, and last month his government increased taxes.
The government claims that the charges on housing and petrol are necessary to help pay for mounting debt repayments and to fund measures to create jobs.
According to a top medical official, Dr James Waweru, seven persons were admitted to Nakuru County Referral medical on Wednesday following gunshot wounds.
Without identifying the shooter, Citizen TV said that two individuals were shot and killed near Nakuru, in the Rift Valley.
According to the ministry, those detained will face charges for a number of offences, including theft, malicious destruction, and arson.
According to Citizen TV, two people in Migori town in western Kenya sought medical attention for bullet wounds they received there during protests. A shooting in the southern town of Makueni left one person dead and another injured.
Two persons were shot and injured in Nairobi, according to Citizen TV and the Standard daily, both of which also reported on the incident. “This government is violating the constitution by being brutal on us while we are trying to uphold the same constitution through peaceful protests,” said a protestor Mombasa.
At the entrance to the shantytown of Kibera in southwest Nairobi, there were two water-cannon vehicles and a large number of riot police. Police were attacked by protesters who were throwing rocks and burning tyres, and the officers fired tear gas in return.
The spokesperson for RailaOdinga’s opposition party, Azimio La Umoja, was reportedly detained, according to a TV station under their control. The leaders of the opposition have also called for protests on Thursday and Friday.
In the two rounds of protests that took place earlier this month, during which police sprayed tear gas and occasionally live ammunition at the masses, at least 15 people were killed and hundreds were detained.
Civic leaders have warned that this year’s protests have cost the economy more than $20 million per day, according to a private sector advocacy organisation.
Following elections in 2007 and 2017, which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people, Kenyan politics is frequently characterised by tribal alliances and ethnic conflict.
