Kenya’s police chief bans ‘out-lawed’ opposition deadly protests

Kenya’s police chief banned opposition supporters from holding “illegal demonstrations” on Wednesday, 12 July 2023 following a wave of anger over tax hikes announced by President William Ruto’s government.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga has urged Kenyans to take to the streets over the surging cost of living, and at least three people were killed following protests in several cities on Friday.

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The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights has called for “a thorough investigation into all reported incidents of police brutality”, adding to the chorus of condemnation from rights groups, including Amnesty International, against “arbitrary arrests”.

Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome said the protest organisers had not provided police with any “notifications” about their planned demonstrations this week.

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LAWFUL MEANS TO BE USED TO DISPERSE KENYA’S PROTESTS

“In this regard, no such demonstrations/gatherings/protests will be allowed tomorrow… All lawful means will be used to disperse such demonstrations,” he said in a statement late Tuesday.

Police on Friday fired tear gas in the capital Nairobi, targeting Odinga’s convoy, and took similar steps against demonstrations in Mombasa and Kisumu. On Saturday, campaigners said police used tear gas on civil society representatives, demanding the release of dozens of people arrested during the protests.

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ODINGA REMAINS CONFIDENT DESPITE KENYA’S POLICE ORDER

Odinga’s Azimio alliance has vowed to stage protests every week against the policies of Ruto’s government. The 78-year-old lost the August 2022 election to Ruto and claims it was “stolen”.

Ruto last month signed into law a finance bill expected to generate more than $2.1 billion for the government’s depleted coffers. The Finance Act provides for new taxes or increases on essential goods such as fuel, food, and mobile money transfers, as well as a controversial levy on all taxpayers to fund a housing scheme.

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The government says the taxes will help create jobs and reduce public borrowing. The Nairobi high court had suspended implementation of the legislation after a senator filed a case challenging its constitutional legality. But Kenya’s energy regulator announced a hike in pump prices after the doubling of VAT to 16 per cent as stipulated in the law.