Politics Chaos, destruction, looting during protests in Kenya
After peaceful protests, anger and violence exploded on Tuesday: hundreds of demonstrators stormed the parliament in the Kenyan capital Nairobi in the afternoon. Parts of the building were set on fire and furniture destroyed, while MPs fled the building through cellar corridors, according to media reports. Television pictures showed fences being knocked down.
In the late afternoon in Nairobi, City Hall, the regional government building, was also set on fire and partially looted, as TV pictures showed. There were also reports from other parts of the country of looting and burning vehicles, as well as peaceful demonstrations.
In a televised address in the evening, Kenyan President William Ruto blamed "organized criminals" for the storming of parliament. Legitimate protests had been infiltrated and subverted, Ruto said. "Kenya has today witnessed an attack on democracy and the rule of law."
"Today's events are a turning point in how we respond to serious threats to our national security," Ruto emphasized. The government had mobilized all the resources at its disposal to ensure that the incidents were not repeated.
In the evening, Defense Minister Aden Duale had already announced that the military would be deployed to support the police.
A highly controversial tax law was put to the vote in parliament on Tuesday. Many people fear that the law will further increase the cost of living. Churches and business representatives have also spoken out against the law.
According to the Kenyan Human Rights Commission, a demonstrator was fatally shot when police fired shots outside parliament. At least three people suffered gunshot wounds. Human rights groups confirmed another death. According to unconfirmed reports, the number of fatalities could be significantly higher. Participants in the protests reported eight to ten deaths on social media, but no official figures were available. In his speech, Ruto also only spoke of the loss of life.
Hospitals and medical organizations reported numerous injuries, but were unable to provide a total number. Television pictures showed the arrival of numerous ambulances at Kenyatta Hospital, the largest hospital in Nairobi. According to information from the hospital in the evening, 125 injured people were treated as inpatients.
The protests had begun peacefully in the morning. As in the previous week, the police, who had cordoned off the streets around the parliament building, cracked down on demonstrators. In addition to tear gas and water cannons, they also used live ammunition. Several human rights organizations have harshly criticized the actions of the security forces on several occasions. Journalists and lawyers were also attacked and obstructed in their work.
Kenyan media companies reported in the afternoon that they had been threatened with closure by government officials for reporting on the protests.
The protest movement that has formed over the past two weeks is mainly characterized by young people who have organized themselves via social media. Kenya has a high level of youth unemployment. Even many well-educated college or university graduates are unable to find work.
Since taking office two years ago, President Ruto has introduced a series of new taxes to improve the East African country's strained financial situation. In view of the further tax burdens now planned, many Kenyans fear an increase in their cost of living that will be almost unmanageable, while entrepreneurs and business people expect significant losses in the face of declining purchasing power. Representatives of the Catholic Bishops' Conference called on Ruto on Tuesday not to sign the law.
SDA
