Kenyan President William Ruto vowed on Tuesday to crack down on “violence and anarchy” after protests against his government’s tax plans were marked by at least five deaths in a day, according to NGOs, and a break-in at parliament. “We will ensure a comprehensive, effective and swift response to today’s treacherous events,” the head of state said in Nairobi, the capital, saying the protests had been “hijacked by dangerous people.”
In the evening, the government announced it had called in the army to fight the demonstrations, while the United States and more than a dozen European countries said they were “deeply concerned” and called for calm. According to several NGOs, police used tear gas, water cannons, plastic bullets and live ammunition to disperse the demonstrators.
Warning against “organizers and accomplices of violence”
“It is abnormal and even unthinkable that criminals posing as peaceful protesters can unleash terror against the people, their elected representatives and the institutions established by our Constitution and expect not to care,” he added. William Ruto also “warned the planners, financiers, organizers and accomplices of violence and anarchy.”
“Despite government assurances that the right to assemble will be protected and facilitated, today’s protests have turned violent,” non-governmental organizations including Amnesty Kenya said in a statement, reporting at least 5 dead and 31 injured . They also say they have recorded 21 kidnappings by “uniformed or plainclothes officers” in the past 24 hours.
Situation of international concern
The head of the African Union Commission on Tuesday expressed his “deep concern” over the deadly violence, calling on the country to “show calm and refrain from further violence”, a concern shared by the head of the African Union Commission ONU. Antonio Guterres was also “very saddened” by reports of at least five deaths. The United States and more than a dozen European countries, including Germany, France and Britain, previously said they were “greatly concerned” by the violence.
French Foreign Minister Stephane Séjournet visited Kenya in April to forge a new relationship with Africa and “build a balanced partnership” and spoke with his counterpart Musalia Mudavadi. The two ministers discussed cooperation in transport and sports infrastructure, as well as in the fight against climate change – an area in which Kenyan President William Ruto has become a spokesman for developing countries.
Source: Le Parisien
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