President William Ruto of Kenya has denounced protests on Tuesday that saw parliament stormed and at least five people shot dead as “treasonous”.
He did not address the swelling outrage against a controversial finance bill that sparked the widespread demonstrations.
Kenya is in the grip of nationwide protests against proposed tax hikes, culminating in Tuesday’s “total shutdown” of the country, which quickly turned violent as police used tear gas and live rounds on protesters.
Kenyan police were seen beating and later arresting some paramedics who were helping injured protesters.
In a nationwide address after parliament was set alight, Ruto said the events on Tuesday were a grave threat to “national security” and that the conversation around the bill had been “hijacked by dangerous people.”
“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,” the president said,
He added that democratic expression and crime must be isolated from one another.
Kenya’s defense ministry said the military has been deployed to support the country’s police services as human rights and civil society groups criticize the heavy-handed response by the police.
It was reported that at least five people were shot dead and around 31 were injured during Tuesday’s protests.
Of these, 13 were hit with live bullets, four with rubber bullets, and three with launcher canisters, according to a joint statement by Amnesty International Kenya, the Kenya Medical Association, the Law Society of Kenya, and Police Reforms Working Group Kenya.
The joint statement also accused the police of shooting at a medical emergency center located at a church.
“The use of live bullets must now stop,” the statement said.
“Despite the assurance by the government that the right to assembly would be protected and facilitated, today’s protests have spiraled into violence.
Human rights observers and medical officers have reported several incidents of human rights violation.”
The demonstrations, sparked by the Finance Bill 2024, have seen citizens rally under the banner of “7 Days of Rage,” as the nation faces more days of upheaval.