KENYAN security forces must stop misusing crowd-control weapons on people protesting against the government’s finance Bill, a human rights group demanded today.

President William Ruto’s plans to raise taxes to pay off interest on foreign debts and reduce a budget deficit has sparked huge protests, to which police have responded with a deadly crackdown.

Last week, thousands of people protested peacefully in the capital Nairobi against the tax increases. Police officers targeted the demonstrators and two people were killed. One was shot dead and the other was hit by a tear-gas canister.

On Tuesday, thousands of protesters stormed Kenya’s parliament. Police opened fire and at least 22 lives were lost.

The following day, Mr Ruto announced that he was backing down from the tax Bill.

Nonetheless, a protest against the tax rises and the government’s handling of the situation is expected to go ahead tomorrow and heavy security has been deployed in Nairobi.

New York-based advocacy organisation Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) warned today that the deployment of crowd-control weapons against demonstrators undermines the right to collectively express dissent, as allowed by the Kenyan constitution and international law.

“Law enforcement officials who are meant to protect civilians used lethal tactics against protesters and medical personnel trying to help people. Such use of force constitutes a clear violation of human rights,” said Suzanne Kidenda, the group’s acting head of office in Kenya.  

“The police need to be held accountable for these violations and the Kenyans who were killed or gravely injured deserve justice. We urge the authorities to prioritise the safety and rights of all individuals during protests and to uphold the principles of human rights.”

Dr Rohini Haar, an emergency medicine specialist and PHR medical adviser, said: “Rubber bullets and tear gas have maimed, blinded and killed hundreds, if not thousands, of protesters globally over the years.
 
“These weapons are not designed for precise targeting and often cause indiscriminate harm to bystanders, children and anyone who happens to be in the area.

“The injuries we see range from severe pain and suffocation to broken bones and severe eye and head trauma.

“Unnecessary, inappropriate or excessive use makes this worse and must be avoided in Kenya and globally.”