Nairobi [Kenya], With at least 39 people killed and hundreds injured during anti-government protests in Kenya according to the country's human rights body, Kenyan President William Ruto has announced that he will implement some of the recommendations made by the youth of the country.
Ruto said he values the contributions of young people and has listened to them, Kenya-based newspaper The Star reported.
In a statement on Monday (July 1) marking two weeks since the protests began, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) said 29 people were killed and 361 injured in connection with the protests. Autopsies on most of the victims have not yet been carried out, the human rights body said. Ruto said he will implement whatever recommendations he can, including reducing government spending and offices.
He said: "My good sons and daughters, let me tell you that I value what you do. I have heard what you have said, I have seen what you have done and you have made recommendations. Some, I will implement directly to reduce over the government and reducing offices that we can."
Kenya's president said that young people have given him difficult choices and that he will meet with them before the end of the week on how to address it. Ruto said that as they prepare to hold talks, young people should come forward and give clear suggestions on how the nation may move forward, The Star reported.
He said: "I will deal with some of the issues that you have raised. You have given me some difficult options. I will suggest to you how we can address together the difficult decisions that you have put on the table on some of the issues."
Ruto further said: "I want to promise you that in the engagement we are going to have, God willing, in the next few days. We have agreed with some of your colleagues here perhaps on Thursday or Friday." The Kenyan leader emphasized that as advance in dialogue, there must be respect. He called on Kenyan youth to make every effort possible and within the law to protect the nation. He made these comments during a meeting with representatives of Digital Media Houses at the House of Representatives in Nairobi, according to The Star report.
The President of Kenya said: "I ask that we have a country to keep. It is the only home we have and we must do everything we do within the parameters of the law, respecting each other and speaking to each other with respect so that we can move forward together as a country. I look forward to this commitment."
Meanwhile, a section of professional and civil society bodies have rejected Ruto's call for talks saying he knows what to do to ease people's anger, Kenya-based Nation newspaper reported. His response came after Ruto formed a National Multi-Sector Forum (NMSF) to try to calm the current youth unrest. These include the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), Kenya Medical Association (KMA), the Kenya Union of Journalists and various civil society groups, according to the Nation report.
The groups said: "Kenya's youth (Generation Z) have spoken clearly about the urgent need for the State to stop public theft and a bloated cabinet, invest in essential services, act against those who shot at unarmed protesters and end - judicial murders among other demands."
They further said that many of the issues expressed by young people do not need policy dialogue but decisive executive action. The groups said the generation's faith will be restored if the government resorts to decisive enforcement and not a state-led national conversation. The statement said: "This will restore confidence in our constitution and our institution of government and will create a nation united and driven by our constitutional values. We call on the national administration and the administration of 47 counties to listen and act on the considerations and demands raised by Generation Z."
Speaking at Ufungamano House on Monday, the bodies said police had killed 24 protesters and another 361 had been injured, the Nation reported.
In a statement, the groups said: "As of last night, 24 human beings had been killed by police officers, one of the youngest victims is 12-year-old Kennedy Onyango." The groups said police arrested 627 people across the country. the country and 32 people were kidnapped and some are still missing to date. According to the groups, those kidnapped were not even booked into any police station and did not face any charges against them.
The statement says: "Dozens of them have been held incommunicado and have been denied access to their families, legal presentation and medical assistance," Nación reported.
The groups claimed that most of the doctors had been attacked when they were arrested by the police, who they accused of even stealing patient lists from mobile emergency centers that were present in various parts of Kenya to treat the injured. According to groups, lawyers were denied access to their clients and were arrested and intimidated by agents into dropping some cases. Additionally, cameras were confiscated from journalists reporting on protesters, and some were arrested and beaten.
Kenya has witnessed a series of anti-government protests over the past two weeks. The protests began with a section of youth expressing their opposition to the Finance Bill 2024. This forced Ruto to refuse to sign the bill. The youth have announced that they will continue to hold protests until their concerns are addressed.
KNCHR records further indicated that 39 people were killed and 361 injured "in connection with protests across the country," the state-funded body said in a statement, adding that the figures cover the period from June 18. to July 1, Al Jazeera reported. He further stated that there had been 32 cases of "forced or involuntary disappearances" and 627 arrests of protesters.
The KNCHR "continues to condemn in the strongest possible terms the unjustified violence and force that was inflicted on protesters, medical personnel, lawyers, journalists and safe spaces such as churches, emergency medical centers and ambulances," the human rights body said.
"We maintain that the force used against protesters was excessive and disproportionate," he added. The watchdog also said it "strongly condemns the violent and shocking acts of lawlessness that were exhibited by some of the protesters," including parliament and other government buildings. Additionally, activists called for new protests starting Tuesday, despite that last week Ruto announced that he would not sign into law the bill containing the tax increases.
Additionally, leaflets have been posted on social media with the hashtags "Occupy Everywhere", "Ruto must go" and "Reject budgeted corruption".
India also issued an advisory to its citizens in Kenya, as protests against a tax hike turned violent and sparked unrest in the African nation. The Indian Embassy in Kenya earlier advised Indian citizens there to "exercise maximum caution, restrict non-essential movements and avoid areas affected by protests and violence until the situation clears up."
"In view of the prevailing tense situation, all Indians in Kenya are advised to exercise utmost caution, restrict non-essential movements and avoid areas affected by protests and violence until the situation clears up," the Embassy said. .
Ruto said he values the contributions of young people and has listened to them, Kenya-based newspaper The Star reported.
In a statement on Monday (July 1) marking two weeks since the protests began, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) said 29 people were killed and 361 injured in connection with the protests. Autopsies on most of the victims have not yet been carried out, the human rights body said. Ruto said he will implement whatever recommendations he can, including reducing government spending and offices.
He said: "My good sons and daughters, let me tell you that I value what you do. I have heard what you have said, I have seen what you have done and you have made recommendations. Some, I will implement directly to reduce over the government and reducing offices that we can."
Kenya's president said that young people have given him difficult choices and that he will meet with them before the end of the week on how to address it. Ruto said that as they prepare to hold talks, young people should come forward and give clear suggestions on how the nation may move forward, The Star reported.
He said: "I will deal with some of the issues that you have raised. You have given me some difficult options. I will suggest to you how we can address together the difficult decisions that you have put on the table on some of the issues."
Ruto further said: "I want to promise you that in the engagement we are going to have, God willing, in the next few days. We have agreed with some of your colleagues here perhaps on Thursday or Friday." The Kenyan leader emphasized that as advance in dialogue, there must be respect. He called on Kenyan youth to make every effort possible and within the law to protect the nation. He made these comments during a meeting with representatives of Digital Media Houses at the House of Representatives in Nairobi, according to The Star report.
The President of Kenya said: "I ask that we have a country to keep. It is the only home we have and we must do everything we do within the parameters of the law, respecting each other and speaking to each other with respect so that we can move forward together as a country. I look forward to this commitment."
Meanwhile, a section of professional and civil society bodies have rejected Ruto's call for talks saying he knows what to do to ease people's anger, Kenya-based Nation newspaper reported. His response came after Ruto formed a National Multi-Sector Forum (NMSF) to try to calm the current youth unrest. These include the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), Kenya Medical Association (KMA), the Kenya Union of Journalists and various civil society groups, according to the Nation report.
The groups said: "Kenya's youth (Generation Z) have spoken clearly about the urgent need for the State to stop public theft and a bloated cabinet, invest in essential services, act against those who shot at unarmed protesters and end - judicial murders among other demands."
They further said that many of the issues expressed by young people do not need policy dialogue but decisive executive action. The groups said the generation's faith will be restored if the government resorts to decisive enforcement and not a state-led national conversation. The statement said: "This will restore confidence in our constitution and our institution of government and will create a nation united and driven by our constitutional values. We call on the national administration and the administration of 47 counties to listen and act on the considerations and demands raised by Generation Z."
Speaking at Ufungamano House on Monday, the bodies said police had killed 24 protesters and another 361 had been injured, the Nation reported.
In a statement, the groups said: "As of last night, 24 human beings had been killed by police officers, one of the youngest victims is 12-year-old Kennedy Onyango." The groups said police arrested 627 people across the country. the country and 32 people were kidnapped and some are still missing to date. According to the groups, those kidnapped were not even booked into any police station and did not face any charges against them.
The statement says: "Dozens of them have been held incommunicado and have been denied access to their families, legal presentation and medical assistance," Nación reported.
The groups claimed that most of the doctors had been attacked when they were arrested by the police, who they accused of even stealing patient lists from mobile emergency centers that were present in various parts of Kenya to treat the injured. According to groups, lawyers were denied access to their clients and were arrested and intimidated by agents into dropping some cases. Additionally, cameras were confiscated from journalists reporting on protesters, and some were arrested and beaten.
Kenya has witnessed a series of anti-government protests over the past two weeks. The protests began with a section of youth expressing their opposition to the Finance Bill 2024. This forced Ruto to refuse to sign the bill. The youth have announced that they will continue to hold protests until their concerns are addressed.
KNCHR records further indicated that 39 people were killed and 361 injured "in connection with protests across the country," the state-funded body said in a statement, adding that the figures cover the period from June 18. to July 1, Al Jazeera reported. He further stated that there had been 32 cases of "forced or involuntary disappearances" and 627 arrests of protesters.
The KNCHR "continues to condemn in the strongest possible terms the unjustified violence and force that was inflicted on protesters, medical personnel, lawyers, journalists and safe spaces such as churches, emergency medical centers and ambulances," the human rights body said.
"We maintain that the force used against protesters was excessive and disproportionate," he added. The watchdog also said it "strongly condemns the violent and shocking acts of lawlessness that were exhibited by some of the protesters," including parliament and other government buildings. Additionally, activists called for new protests starting Tuesday, despite that last week Ruto announced that he would not sign into law the bill containing the tax increases.
Additionally, leaflets have been posted on social media with the hashtags "Occupy Everywhere", "Ruto must go" and "Reject budgeted corruption".
India also issued an advisory to its citizens in Kenya, as protests against a tax hike turned violent and sparked unrest in the African nation. The Indian Embassy in Kenya earlier advised Indian citizens there to "exercise maximum caution, restrict non-essential movements and avoid areas affected by protests and violence until the situation clears up."
"In view of the prevailing tense situation, all Indians in Kenya are advised to exercise utmost caution, restrict non-essential movements and avoid areas affected by protests and violence until the situation clears up," the Embassy said. .
