Protesters gesture towards police officers during a mass rally called by the opposition leader Raila Odinga who claims the last Kenyan presidential election was stolen from him and blames the government for the hike of living costs in Kibera, Nairobi on March 20, 2023. - Kenya's opposition leader Raila Odinga called on his supporters to participate in countrywide protests on March 20, 2023 to demand that President William Ruto lowers the cost of living while questioning last years presidential elections results. Kenyans face economic hardship following the governments recent tax measures and increased food and fuel prices. (Photo by YASUYOSHI CHIBA / AFP) (Photo by YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP via Getty Images)
Following violent clashes outside parliament and across the country that left at least 23 people dead and numerous others wounded, Kenyan protesters have vowed on Wednesday to continue their demonstrations against new tax hikes.
Supporters of the protest which has lasted for a week, took to social media using the hashtag #tutanethursday, a mix of Swahili and English meaning “see you on Thursday.”
What began as online outrage over tax increases has evolved into a nationwide protest movement demanding a political overhaul, posing the most significant challenge to President William Ruto’s two-year-old administration.
Police opened fire on crowds surrounding the parliament on Tuesday, and protesters later breached the assembly’s compound shortly after lawmakers passed the controversial tax measures.
Protests were recorded in at least 35 of Kenya’s 47 counties, spanning major cities and rural areas, including Ruto’s hometown of Eldoret in his ethnic Kalenjin stronghold. The Kenya Medical Association confirmed that at least 23 people were killed across Kenya, and another 30 are being treated for gunshot wounds. In Nairobi, the main public mortuary received six bodies from the protests, while Kenyatta National Hospital admitted two bodies and treated 160 injured individuals.
In his speech following the clashes, President Ruto condemned the attack on parliament, attributing it to “criminals pretending to be peaceful protesters.” This sparked a backlash on social media, with one user posting, “Good morning fellow CRIMINALS Tupatane Thursday To do what CRIMINALS do.”
In the televised address, Ruto claimed that the debate on the tax measures had been “hijacked by dangerous people.” The government ordered the army to assist the police in handling the “security emergency,” although no troops were reported on the streets of Nairobi on Wednesday.
Social media posts have urged people to occupy State House, the president’s office and residence, on Thursday, and target the local offices of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Friday. It remains unclear whether these calls stem from individuals or a broader movement.
Protester Wellington Ogolla expressed his determination to continue demonstrating. “It’s our right to demonstrate … We are just expressing ourselves,” he said.
Melissa Enoch
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