The crackdown on anti-government protests has left at least 39 dead, an official body says.

Recent anti-government protests that broke out in Kenya to protest proposed new taxes have left 39 people dead, officials reported Monday.^is July, an official human rights protection body.

“According to our data, thirty-nine people died and three hundred and sixty-one others were injured in the protests in the country.”the Kenya National Human Rights Commission (KNHRC) said in a statement. It also claimed to have recorded thirty-two cases of “forced or involuntary disappearances” and six hundred and twenty-seven arrests of demonstrators. This toll comes on the eve of a new day of mobilization initiated by the country’s youth against the government of President William Ruto.

Born in mid-June on social networks, with the slogan “anti-taxes”, a strong opposition to the draft budget has strongly mobilized among the youth, before drawing in its wake Kenyans of all ages. The movement has turned into a protest against President Ruto who, since coming to power in 2022, has created and increased several levies that have hit Kenyans’ purchasing power hard.

Withdrawal of the criticized text

While several demonstrations took place from June 18 without major incidents, the day of mobilization on June 25 descended into chaos: demonstrators stormed Parliament, which had just voted on the criticized 2024-2025 budget project, and the police then fired live ammunition into the crowd.

“The Commission continues to condemn in the strongest terms the unjustified violence against protesters, medical personnel, lawyers, journalists and in safe spaces such as churches, emergency medical centers and ambulances.”she said. “We maintain that the force used against the protesters was excessive and disproportionate.”the Commission added.

The KNHRC had previously reported twenty-two people killed on June 25, while a group of local NGOs, including the Kenyan branch of Amnesty International, put the death toll at twenty-three. “caused by police shootings”On Saturday, the NGO Human Rights Watch claimed to have recorded at least thirty-one deaths in several cities across the country.

Kenya’s president said on Sunday that 19 people died on June 25 and said he had no “no blood on hands”judging that “The police did their best” and “criminals have infiltrated and wreaked havoc”The day after the deadly day of protests, William Ruto announced the withdrawal of the criticized text.