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During an anti-government demonstration in Kenya, Auma Obama, half-sister of former US President Barack Obama, was tear-gassed while giving an interview to CNN.
The half-sister of former US President Barack Obama, Auma Obama, was tear-gassed in the middle of an interview with CNN, while she was taking part in an anti-government demonstration.
Kenya, an East African country of around 52 million inhabitants, is in the grip of an unprecedented protest movement led by youth and which has spread across the entire country in less than two weeks. Launched on social networks shortly after the presentation to Parliament on June 13 of the 2024-2025 budget, this protest demanded the withdrawal of new planned taxes – including a 16% VAT on bread and an annual tax of 2.5% on private vehicles.
“I can’t even see anymore.”
In the images relayed by CNN on social networks, we can see Auma Obama answering questions from the press before interrupting himself and starting to cough. “I can’t even see anymore. They are being sprayed with tear gas,” she cries before kneeling. “Young Kenyans are demonstrating for their rights. They are demonstrating with flags and banners,” she said earlier.
Before this third day of protest this Tuesday, the mobilization was marked by the death of two people in Nairobi. Several dozen others were injured by police, who also made hundreds of arrests. Amnesty and the NGO KHRC accused the authorities of kidnapping activists. Police spokesperson Resila Onyango did not respond to requests from AFP about these accusations.
