Skip next section Internet down across Kenya amid protests, says web monitoring firm
06/25/2024June 25, 2024
Internet down across Kenya amid protests, says web monitoring firm
Internet monitoring site Netblocks said there was “major disruption” in internet services nationwide as the East African nation remained embroiled in a deadly escalation of protests.
“Live network data show a major disruption to internet connectivity in #Kenya; the incident comes amidst a deadly crackdown by police on #RejectFinanceBill2024 protesters a day after authorities claimed there would be no internet shutdown,” Netblocks said.
https://p.dw.com/p/4hU6a
Skip next section Kenya Red Cross says vehicles attacked, staff and volunteers injured
06/25/2024June 25, 2024
Kenya Red Cross says vehicles attacked, staff and volunteers injured
The Kenya Red Cross Society said its vehicles were attacked amid protests and their staff and volunteers were injured as a result.
“We can’t provide life-saving interventions without access and safety for our staff and volunteers. It is crucial that we are granted access to continue our humanitarian efforts without hindrance,” the Kenyan Red Cross said.
The organization did not specify who was behind the attack.
https://p.dw.com/p/4hU98
Skip next section Why is Ruto’s government looking for funds?
06/25/2024June 25, 2024
Why is Ruto’s government looking for funds?
Protesters argue that the government’s controversial finance bill on raising taxes will weaken the economy and raise the cost of living for Kenyans.
But the International Monetary Fund has said that Kenya’s government needs to increase revenues to reduce its budget deficit.
William Ruto, who was elected in 2022 on a pledge to uplift lives of the poor, has claimed the tax hikes were a necessary measure to alleviate debt.
All three of the major US credit agencies — Fitch, Moody’s and S&P — consider Kenyan sovereign debt to be “highly speculative” as a form of investment, and all three define the outlook for the country as negative with further downgrades likely in the short or medium term. In other words, they are not confident the government will be able to service its debts.
The problem has been exacerbated by the Kenyan shilling currency losing value against the US dollar in recent years. Despite a fairly sharp recovery in recent months following its low-point in February, it’s still worth more than 10% less against the dollar than it was five years ago.
https://p.dw.com/p/4hU9K
Skip next section Rights body says police must be held accountable
06/25/2024June 25, 2024
Rights body says police must be held accountable
The Kenya Human Rights Commission has shared a video of police officers shooting at protesters, saying they would be held to account.
Police opened fire with live ammunition as demonstrators tried to storm the Kenyan parliament as lawmakers discussed an unpopular bill to raise taxes amid a cost of living crisis in the country. Reports quickly emerged of several people dead and dozens wounded.
Two people were killed in similar protests, by mainly young people, last week.
“Police have shot four protesters, as witnessed by KHRC, killing one,” the commission said. “We strongly condemn the police killing. Such actions are unacceptable and constitute a grave violation of human rights. Justice and accountability are imperative. We will vigorously push for police accountability.”
Rights watchdogs have also accused security forces of breaking the law by abducting demonstrators.
Kenya Law Society President Faith Odhiambo said on Tuesday that 50 Kenyans, including her personal assistant, had been “abducted” by people believed to be police officers.
https://p.dw.com/p/4hU5R
Skip next section What are the roots of the protests against Kenya’s finance bill?
06/25/2024June 25, 2024
What are the roots of the protests against Kenya’s finance bill?
Protests turned violent in Nairobi on Tuesday, as lawmakers met to approve a finance bill that has sparked nationwide .
Last week, the government of President William Ruto was forced to scrap some tax increases that were initially included in its finance bill after people took the streets in protest.
One of the reforms that was dropped, for example, included a 16% sales tax (or value-added tax) on bread.
“We are already paying taxes and the little that we are paying — they are not doing much with it… So how can we trust them with more?” said one protester speaking with DW last week.
Hundreds, mostly young people, have assembled en masse to voice their opposition.”We are not powerless, we have a voice,” said another protester speaking with DW last week.
Then too, police cracked down on protesters, in what rights groups say was an unnecessarily violent response.
https://p.dw.com/p/4hTzg
Skip next section Footage of damage, fires, at parliament and city hall
06/25/2024June 25, 2024
Footage of damage, fires, at parliament and city hall
Footage broadcast on privately owned Citizen TV showed that a section of the parliament building was on fire after it was stormed by protesters.
Lawmakers, who were inside passing legislation to raise taxes, were said to have escaped the complex via tunnel.
The channel also showed footage of the aftermath of the storming of the parliament, as security forces surveyed the damage. It showed broken glass and furniture and objects burning on the grass outside.
The channel also showed that a fire had erupted at about the same time at the governor’s office in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi. The footage showed police trying to douse the flames at City Hall, where the office is located, with water cannon.
https://p.dw.com/p/4hU58
Skip next section Police use live rounds, several possible deaths
06/25/2024June 25, 2024
Police use live rounds, several possible deaths
Reports emerged that some of the protesters had been shot and that several people had been killed. Reports varied significantly in the number of fatalities, from between one to 10.
Some demonstrators entered parliament at about the same time, with the building set on fire soon afterward.
https://p.dw.com/p/4hTuX
Skip next section Police block access to government buildings
06/25/2024June 25, 2024
Police block access to government buildings
Police were deplyoed in force to meet hundreds of chanting demonstrators in Nairobi’s business district — previously the focus of protest — on Tuesday morning.
Meanwhile, officers wearing full riot gear blocked access to Kenya’s parliament to the . The legislature was debating a finance bill containing the tax proposals.
President William Ruto’s government has proposed tax hikes in its annual finance bill, which lawmakers must back by June 30.
Police also stopped protesters from reaching State House — the site of the president’s office and residence.
https://p.dw.com/p/4hTuM
The post Kenya updates: Protesters storm parliament, deaths reported appeared first on Deutsche Welle.