President of Kenya, William Ruto, criticized the global anti-government demonstrations that have resulted in at least 17 deaths as a result of a brutal police crackdown, calling it” disloyal” and deployed the military to put an end to the anger.
Ruto’s plan to pass a number of unpopular taxes to add 302 billion shillings ($ 2.3 billion ) for the budget year that begins on July 1st sparked the demonstrations. The bill was passed on Tuesday after dropping some of the more controversial charges, including a 16 % income on food, and protesters are demanding that legislators scrap the entire program.
Fresh Kenyans in their 20s and 30s have been demonstrating on social media platforms, with the majority being younger people. While earlier anti-government rallies were primarily led by opposition politicians, the existing rallies appear to be organic and generally peaceful, but police have used tear gas, live ammunition, and powerful water cannons to silence them.
In a televised address on Tuesday night, Ruto declared that the state” may treat every threat to national security and the dignity of our position as an existential threat to our republic.” ” Appropriately, I assure Kenyans that we may offer a full, productive and expeditious reaction to today’s traitorous events”.
U. N. Secretary- General Antonio Guterres was “deeply concerned” about the crime and reported instances of random punishments, according to an emailed statement. He urged Kenya’s government to be restrained, and urged peaceful demonstrations.
The authorities suggested the new fees to balance the state’s finances, target its high debt ratio, and gain more funding from the International Monetary Fund. The anticipated procedures, which helped the shilling become the best-performing money in the world this year, even sparked protests by citizens who were struggling with rising food costs and a youth unemployment rate that the Federation of Kenya Employers estimated to be as large as 67 %, respectively.
Death Toll
At least 17 died in the demonstrations across 28 counties, according to a tally by human rights group Independent Medico- Legal Unit by 5 p. m. Tuesday. About 53 people were arrested and 22 others are missing, it said in a statement.
160 people were admitted to Kenyatta National Hospital on Tuesday, according to a hospital administrator who spoke on the condition of anonymity, with various degrees of injuries, including fractures and bullet wounds, according to a hospital administrator who spoke on the condition of anonymity. At least two men who were already dead were taken to the hospital.
Ruto’s defiant speech, in which he expressed regrets about the “loss of life”, took many observers by surprise. No act of treason was committed, according to Julius Njoroge, a constitutional lawyer.
” He took it as an act of aggression”, he said, referring to Ruto. ” It was just people expressing their opinion, though it got out of hand. It was n’t people betraying the country”.
Funding Shortfall
Njuguna Ndung’u, the Treasury Secretary of Kenya, stated last week that the government’s decision to retaliate against some of the levies will result in a 200 billion shilling shortfall in government finances. The IMF frequently recommends austerity measures to fix the fundamentals of economies, which frequently amounts to acute short-term pain as the price for longer-term stability, as well as aid for nations with balance of payments deficits.
Since the protests broke out last week, the IMF has not commented.
The IMF’s policies have been a source of criticism from restless citizens in developing nations who have turned to the crisis lender for money for decades. Governments have frequently clashed with protesters as a result of austerity measures like spending cuts and subsidy withdrawal, leading to the toppling of administrations.
The IMF’s recommendation in 1998 to stop subsidies for fuel and food in Indonesia precipitated a revolt that forced dictator Suharto to step down as leader. Discontent with the IMF in Argentina in 2001 led to both deaths and the president’s resignation. In the early 1980s, protests against an IMF loan to Morocco resulted in bank burnings and police fighting that left hundreds of people dead.
On Tuesday, hundreds of protesters seized parliament buildings in Kenya after the unpopular tax laws were passed. Ruto then has 14 days to sign the revised measures, or ask parliament for more changes.
Legislators approved an amendment to increase an import tax, whose proceeds help pay for the operation of a Chinese-built railroad, to fill the gap created by the concessions. A new plan to increase the fuel levy by 39 % will be made.
Additionally, the Treasury may choose to take additional loans or implement additional tax laws. The nation’s debt — equivalent to about 67 % of GDP — is at high risk of distress, according to the IMF.
In accordance with an IMF program signed in 2021, Kenya pledged to borrow less, cut government spending, and increase revenue collection. The Washington-based lender is now a likely target of the protests, whose name is prominently displayed on posters and criticized by angry crowds.
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