Police are killing and teargassing protestors in Kenya as demonstrations continue over new taxes and the high cost of living. A police officer in the area told A.P. News that police killed six people on July 12th, while a healthcare worker in Nairobi said that over 50 children had been teargassed. The six victims were shot for “disrupting businesses,” and at least 10 additional people were sent to hospitals for police-inflicted injuries. Nevertheless, the protestors are vowing to continue demonstrating until the new tax increase is repealed.
“All our engagements are peaceful until the police show up,” opposition leader Raila Odinga said, accusing the police of suppression and abuse of power. Odinga, who lost last year’s presidential election to the conservative William Ruto, once again called on the President to repeal the new taxes and address the struggling economy, saying, “People are tired of going to bed hungry, facing the new day hungry and returning to bed hungry.”
Kenya’s economic crisis has left many of its people hungry. With inflation at 16% for petroleum products and 8% for other goods, the new taxes added to many Kenyans’ existing frustrations with Ruto’s economy. While the President claims that the taxes are necessary to pay the nation’s debt and create job opportunities, Odinga and the opposition argue that the taxes only exacerbate Kenyans’ struggles with the high cost of living. As the demonstrations continue, many Kenyans are unable to go to work or school, further worsening their economic situation.
Meanwhile, the police refuse to back down. “All lawful means will be used to disperse such demonstrations,” wrote National Police Inspector General Japhet Koome.
As the conflict between Odinga and Ruto continues, it is the everyday people of Kenya that suffer the most from the ensuing chaos and police brutality. If Odinga and Ruto care as much as they claim to about their constituents, they will put an end to the violence and come to an agreement about Kenya’s economic future through peaceful dialogue. By settling their dispute in a sustained dialogue in collaboration with economic experts, the leaders will be able to determine the best path forward without hurting Kenyan citizens.
Once Odinga and Ruto are able to meet in peaceful dialogue and address Kenya’s economic crisis, police reform will be a crucial next step to keeping the nation’s citizens safe. Unfortunately, police brutality is not a problem limited to Kenya. While the international community should treat this situation as the humanitarian crisis that it is, we must address police violence at home before hypocritically criticizing Kenya. Police reform is a necessary step in creating a stable, just, and peaceful world.
- Protests Over High Cost of Living Turn Violent in Kenya - August 30, 2023
- Human Rights Watch Urges Tunisia To Stop Mistreatment Of Migrants - August 23, 2023
- 93 Killed In Maui Wildfires. The Search For Survivors Continues - August 20, 2023