United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for restrictions in Kenya by police and security forces, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday (25).
According to Dujarric, the head of the United Nations also asked the protesters to be peaceful.
“It is very important that people’s rights to demonstrate peacefully are respected,” the spokesperson said.
Police fired at protesters who tried to invade Kenya’s parliament this Tuesday (25) and at least five were shot dead.
Parts of the parliament building were set on fire as lawmakers approved a bill to increase taxes.
Tax reform in Kenya
The Kenyan Parliament approved, this Tuesday (25), the increase in the country’s taxes. This is the third vote by legislators on the issue, which now goes to presidential sanction.
The finance law aims to raise an additional $2.7 billion in taxes as part of an effort to reduce public debt. The country’s interest payments alone consume 37% of annual revenue.
Discussion of the measure caused widespread protests among Kenyan citizens. Protesters are opposing tax rises in a country already recovering from a cost of living crisis, and many are also calling for President William Ruto to resign.
Ruto won elections almost two years ago on a platform of defending the working poor, but has been cornered by demands from creditors such as the International Monetary Fund, which is urging the government to reduce the public deficit to access more financing.
Source: CNN Brasil
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