A Day After Kenyan Protestors Stormed Parliament, The Death Toll Jumps To 22

Wednesday, June 26, was a day after demonstrators stormed parliament against a tax bill that would increase the cost of living, an act of disobedience that President William Ruto dubbed an “existential” danger. Kenyans had to deal with the lingering scent of tear gas and troops in the streets.

A human rights organization reported that at least 22 people had died.

Although there have previously been protests in Nairobi, the country’s capital, activists and others have cautioned that the stakes are higher following the largest attack on Kenya’s leadership in decades. Ruto promised to put an end to the disturbance “at whatever cost” and labeled the events as “treasonous.” Alongside police, who are suspected of killing many people on Tuesday, were soldiers on patrol.

More demonstrations are anticipated as Kenyans come together to oppose the finance bill, spearheaded by the youth, and rise above ethnic and other divisions. It would worsen the situation for the vast majority of the nation’s impoverished citizens by raising taxes and fees on a variety of everyday goods and services, such as bank transactions and egg imports. In order to pay off debt in the economic center of East Africa, the government plans to raise revenue.

On Wednesday, there were tales of dread but no violence. Civil society organizations anticipate further kidnappings of demonstration participants after reporting on many already.