Five People Died In Protests On The Financial Bill, Kenyan Human Rights Group Asks For The Use Of Sharp Bullets To Be Stopped

JAKARTA - Human rights groups and civil society criticized a strong response to Kenyan protests on Tuesday.

At least five people were shot dead and about 31 people injured during protests over the Draft Finance Law which was held yesterday.

Of these, 13 people were hit by live ammunition, four were hit by rubber bullets, and three were hit by launch tubes, according to a joint statement by Amnesty International Kenya, the Kenyan Medical Association, the Kenyan Legal Society, and the Kenyan Police Reform Working Group.

"The use of live ammunition must now be stopped," the statement said, quoted by CNN June 26.

The joint statement also accused police of firing at a medical emergency center located in a church. CNN has contacted Kenyan police for comment.

"Although the government guarantees that the right to gather will be protected and facilitated, today's protests have turned violent. Human rights observers and medics have reported several incidents of human rights abuses," he continued.

Demonstrations, sparked by the 2024 Financial Bill, have seen residents protest under the promise of "7 Days of Anger," as the country faces more days of upheaval.

Last week, the government canceled several tax increases, including a 16 percent value added tax proposed for bread along with taxes on motorized vehicles, vegetable oils, and money transfers via cell phones. However, the concession was not sufficient to ease protests amid rising cost of living.

The dramatic scene that took place in the nation's capital saw government buildings set on fire and a ceremony baton stolen from Parliament in the fight. Kenyan MPs were evacuated from Parliament as police confronted protesters, CNN affiliate NTV Kenya reported.

Internet monitoring site NetBlocks reported "big disruptions" to internet connectivity on Tuesday.

The City Hall of Nairobi, the office of the Governor of Nairobi, was also burned, visually live from CNN Citizen TV affiliates showed. The fire was seen blazing through the window downstairs, while the other window also emitted smoke. According to Citizen TV, several people were seen moving furniture, including chairs, from the building. Vehicles parked at Kenya's Supreme Court, which is close to City Hall, were also burned.

Separately, the United Nations Secretary-General called on Kenyan police and security forces to "restrict", his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday, adding he was "deeply concerned about the reports of violence we have seen."

Meanwhile, the African Union Commission called on all stakeholders to refrain from further violence. A statement from the agency said the chairman of the commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, urged "all stakeholders to remain calm and refrain from further violence."

He also appealed to national stakeholders to engage in constructive dialogue to address controversial issues that caused protests in Kenya's highest interest.