Nairobi (Dawan Africa) – One person was killed, and at least 17 others were injured during protests in Kenya on Wednesday, marking the first anniversary of the deadly 2024 anti-taxation demonstrations, according to reports.
Protests erupted across Kenya, with violent clashes between demonstrators and police. In Machakos County, one person was killed by gunfire, and at least seven others sustained gunshot wounds and were rushed to Matuu Hospital. The injured also included a female police officer who sustained head injuries. Media outlet Citizen reported that 10 victims, including the officer, were taken to Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi for medical attention.
In response to the unrest, Kenyan police deployed tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds. Protesters, who were demanding changes to the government’s tax policies, set fire to the Kikuyu Law Courts, stormed a police station, and ignited bonfires inside local government offices near Nairobi.
The Communications Authority (CA) of Kenya ordered all television and radio stations to cease live coverage of the protests, warning of "regulatory action" against those who defied the directive. This move was met with strong condemnation from the Kenya Editors’ Guild (KEG), which called the order “unconstitutional state censorship.” KEG urged media outlets to uphold the 2023 High Court ruling that prohibited such censorship and demanded the restoration of broadcasting signals for affected stations.
Meanwhile, global internet watchdog NetBlocks reported that restrictions were imposed on the Telegram messaging platform in Kenya, with fears of a broader internet shutdown rising amid the ongoing unrest.
President William Ruto called for peaceful protests, urging citizens to demonstrate without resorting to violence or property damage. However, the situation continued to escalate as thousands took to the streets to mark the anniversary of the June 25, 2024, anti-taxation protests, which led to widespread chaos, the storming of parliament, and more than 60 deaths. Ruto's administration faced intense criticism for its handling of the protests, which also led to significant property damage.
The protests were initially fueled by public anger over rising living costs and Ruto’s tax policies. They eventually grew into demands for the President's resignation. The government later acknowledged the fatalities and disappearances resulting from the unrest. Following the protests, Ruto dissolved nearly his entire Cabinet, retaining only Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and pledging to form a "broad-based government."
Photo credit: Anatolia News Agency
