A total of 39 people have been killed in anti-government demonstrations in Kenya, the national rights watchdog said, as activists geared up for a new round of protests this week, Report informs referring to FirstPost.
The toll announced by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights is almost double the figure previously disclosed by the authorities for those killed while contesting a raft of deeply unpopular tax increases that have now been withdrawn.
“Data from our records indicates that thirty-nine people have died and three hundred and sixty-one injured in relation to the protests countrywide,” the state-funded body said in a statement, adding that the figures covered the period from June 18 to July 1.
It also said there had been 32 cases of “enforced or involuntary disappearances” and 627 arrests of protesters.
Largely peaceful anti-tax rallies – led by mostly young Gen-Z protesters – descended into shocking scenes of deadly violence last Tuesday when lawmakers passed the contentious legislation.
After the vote was announced, crowds ransacked the parliament complex in central Nairobi and it was partly set ablaze as police fired live bullets at protesters.