39 killed in Kenya anti-tax protests says National Commission on Human Rights

A total of 39 people have been killed in anti-government protests in Kenya that erupted last month over planned tax hikes, the national rights watchdog said on Monday, July 1, a tally double what the government has admitted so far.

The updated toll was announced by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights on the eve of an expected new round of demonstrations led mostly by Gen-Z activists against the government of President William Ruto.

"Data from our records indicates that thirty-nine people have died and three hundred and sixty-one injured in relation to the protests countrywide," the state-funded body said in a statement, adding that the figures covered the period from June 18 to July 1. It also said there had been 32 cases of "enforced or involuntary disappearances" and 627 arrests of protesters.

"The Commission continues to condemn in the strongest terms possible the unwarranted violence and force that was inflicted on protesters, medical personnel, lawyers, journalists and on safe spaces such as churches, medical emergency centres and ambulances," it said. "We maintain that the force used against the protesters was excessive and disproportionate."

Fresh protests have been called by activists starting from Tuesday despite Ruto announcing last week that the bill containing the contentious tax hikes would be withdrawn. Ruto said in a television interview Sunday that 19 people had died in the protests, but insisted he was not to blame.