Kenya was bracing on Tuesday for fresh protest action against the government after anti-tax hike demonstrations last month descended into violence that left dozens of people dead.The state-funded KNCHR said Monday that in addition to the dead and injured in the previous protests, there had been 32 cases of “enforced or involuntary disappearances” and 627 arrests of protesters.
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“The Commission continues to condemn in the strongest terms possible the unwarranted violence and force that was inflicted on protesters, medical personnel, lawyers, journalists and on safe spaces such as churches, medical emergency centres and ambulances,” the KNCHR said.
It also said it “strongly condemns the violent and shocking acts of lawlessness that was exhibited by some of the protesters,” including attacks on the parliament and other government buildings.
The body also highlighted what it said were “unacceptable” incidents of the “wanton destruction” of property linked to some politicians and threats and violence against them.
Kenya’s cash-strapped government had said previously that the tax increases were necessary to fill its coffers and service a massive public debt of some 10 trillion shillings ($78 billion), or about 70 percent of GDP.
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Ruto had already rolled back some tax measures after the protests began, prompting the Treasury to warn of a gaping budget shortfall of 200 billion shillings ($1.6 billion).
In Sunday’s interview, Ruto warned that the government would have to borrow another $7.7 billion because of the decision to drop the finance bill.
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