Kenyan Protesters Vow to March Again on Thursday: ‘You Can't Kill All of Us’

 In a hurry? Here’s a quick summary…

• Kenyan protest organizers called for new peaceful marches against tax hikes as the death toll from demonstrations reached 22, prompting government investigation.

• President Ruto's administration deployed the military and passed the contentious tax bill, while international and domestic reactions highlighted the unrest and its impact.

Kenyan protest organizers called for fresh peaceful marches on Wednesday in opposition to the highly unpopular tax hikes, as the death toll from the nationwide demonstrations rose to 22. 

The state-funded rights body vowed to investigate the escalating violence. Tensions spiked on Tuesday when police opened fire on demonstrators who stormed parliament. 

These youth-led rallies, which began peacefully last week with thousands marching against the tax increases, turned violent, leaving parts of parliament ablaze, hundreds wounded, and shocking the nation.

In response, President William Ruto's government deployed the military. On Tuesday afternoon, parliament passed the contentious bill containing the tax hikes, which now awaits Ruto's signature to become law. 

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However, demonstrators vowed to return to the streets on Thursday, demanding the bill be scrapped. 

"Tomorrow we march peacefully again as we wear white, for all our fallen people," protest organizer Hanifa Adan announced on social media. "You cannot kill all of us."

The hashtag #Rejectfinancebill2024 trended as demonstrators prepared for another round of protests. 

"The government does not care about us because they shot us with live bullets," said Steve, 40, who participated in Tuesday's protest. 

He accused Ruto of victimizing innocent people and anticipated more violence and chaos on Thursday.

Roseline Odede, chairwoman of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, confirmed 22 deaths and announced an investigation. 

"This is the largest number of deaths in a single-day protest," she noted, with 19 fatalities in Nairobi alone. 

Over 300 injuries and 50 arrests were recorded. Simon Kigondu, president of the Kenya Medical Association, described the unprecedented violence against unarmed people. Medics at Kenyatta National Hospital treated 160 people, including those with bullet wounds.

Protest organizers shared fundraising efforts online to support those injured. President Ruto warned that his government would take a tough stance against "violence and anarchy," labeling some demonstrators as "criminals." 

"It is not in order or even conceivable that criminals pretending to be peaceful protesters can reign terror against the people, their elected representatives, and the institutions established under our constitution and expect to go scot-free," he stated. 

Defence Minister Aden Bare Duale announced the army's deployment to address the "security emergency."

An AFP reporter observed a heavy police presence around parliament early Wednesday, with tear gas still lingering in the air. 

A policeman, who watched the previous day's events unfold on TV, described the scene as madness and hoped for calm. In the central business district, traders assessed the damage. 

"They didn't leave anything, just the boxes," lamented James Ng'ang'a, whose electronics shop was looted.

Ruto's administration was caught off guard by the intensity of opposition to the tax hikes. 

While the rallies, primarily led by young Kenyans, started peacefully, tensions escalated sharply on Tuesday afternoon when officers fired at crowds near parliament. 

Protesters breached the barricades, ransacking the complex. AFP journalists witnessed severe injuries among the demonstrators.

The unrest has drawn international concern, with over 10 Western nations, including the United States, expressing shock at the violence outside the Kenyan Parliament. 

Rights watchdogs have accused authorities of abducting protesters, but police have not commented.

Long-standing grievances over the rising cost of living intensified last week as lawmakers debated the tax hike bill. 

The government argues that the tax increases are necessary to service Kenya's massive debt of approximately 10 trillion shillings ($78 billion), roughly 70% of the GDP. 

Despite being one of East Africa's most dynamic economies, a third of Kenya's 52 million population lives in poverty.