Protests in Kenya against substantial tax increases have resulted in at least 30 deaths this week, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported on Saturday.

The violence erupted after the government passed deeply unpopular tax hikes, under pressure from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

“Kenyan security forces shot directly into crowds of protesters on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, including protesters who were fleeing,” HRW stated. The organization based its findings on witness accounts, publicly available information, and records from hospitals and mortuaries in Nairobi.

“Shooting directly into crowds without justification, including as protesters try to flee, is completely unacceptable under Kenyan and international law,” said Otsieno Namwaya, associate Africa director at HRW. He called for Kenyan authorities to ensure their forces protect peaceful protesters and to end impunity for police violence.

The protests, which began as largely peaceful rallies, turned violent on Tuesday when lawmakers approved the tax increases. Following the announcement, crowds stormed the parliament complex, leading to unprecedented clashes and a fire within the complex. President William Ruto’s administration ultimately withdrew the bill.

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, a state-funded body, reported 22 deaths and 300 injuries. The Commission announced it would open an investigation into the violence.

“Eight military officers came out and just opened fire on people. They killed several people, including those who were not part of the protests,” HRW quoted a rights activist in Nairobi as saying.

HRW urged Kenya’s international partners to continue monitoring the situation and to press Kenyan authorities for a speedy, credible, and transparent investigation into abuses by the security forces.

The tax increases, which sparked the protests, were driven by pressure from the IMF. The resulting unrest has been the most severe since Kenya gained independence from Britain in 1963.

The international community is watching closely as the situation develops, with calls for accountability and justice for those affected by the violence. (ILKHA)