Kenyan protest organizers have called for new peaceful marches against unpopular tax hikes, as the death toll from nationwide demonstrations rose to 22, according to a state-funded rights body.
The youth-led rallies, which started peacefully last week with thousands marching against the tax increases, resulted in parts of parliament being set ablaze and hundreds wounded.
In response, President William Ruto’s government deployed the military which led to the death of some of the protesters.
Protesters vowed to return to the streets on Thursday, demanding the bill be scrapped.
“Tomorrow we march peacefully again, wearing white for all our fallen people,” protest organizer Hanifa Adan said on X.
The government on the other hand argues that the tax increases are necessary to service Kenya’s massive debt of 10 trillion shillings ($78 billion), which is about 70% of the country’s GDP. Despite being one of East Africa’s most dynamic economies, a third of Kenya’s 52 million people live in poverty.
