Clashes between police and protesters took place near the capital Nairobi, leading to the arrest of 50 people and the death of three.
Three people, including a minor, were killed late Thursday night, 27 June, during anti-government protests in Kenya. The clashes took place in the town of Ongata Rongai in Kajiado County, about 17 kilometres (11 miles) south of Nairobi.
Shots were fired in the area minutes after midnight as police continued efforts to disperse the remaining protesters, Hussein Abduba, the area’s superintendent of police, reported.
We are working to clear the area and restore order. We have also arrested 50 others, who have been taken to the police station for processing.
The demonstrators were part of a larger group in Ongata Rongai protesting against an increase in government taxes. However, other people took advantage of this and started looting, breaking into shops, stealing goods and causing significant property damage.
In several towns in the East African country, including Mombasa and Kisumu, shops and businesses were looted, forcing owners to close down for the week.
Kenya’s death toll from protests has risen to 26, including the latest casualties. On Thursday, Kenya’s High Court approved the use of the armed forces to restore order after violent anti-tax protests.
The decision came a day after the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) filed a petition asking the court to block the deployment. On Wednesday, President William Ruto bowed to public pressure and announced he would not sign the controversial 2024 finance bill which included several tax hikes.
