Over 10 youth died during ‘Reject Finance Bill 2024 protests’ in the Kenya’s Capital, Nairobi on Tuesday June, 25, 2024.
St. John’s ambulance reported that at least 8 youth died while making their way to Parliament buildings in the capital and were shot.
Many other youth sustained gunshot wounds, 20 in critical condition and were rushed to the Kenyatta National Hospital for urgent treatment.
KNH reported that it received over 120 casualties some in critical conditions while bullets lodged in their bodies.
The nationwide protests saw the youth making good their threats and occupied the Parliament buildings leaving Legislatures scampering for their safety.
Some were evacuated using ambulances and helicopters after the angry youth vowed to forcefully eject them following the passage of the controversial Finance Bill, 2024.
According to the youth, arresting and killing them will only re-energise them and make them fearlessly fight for the rights of all Kenyans.
They said their lives and that of their parents have become unbearable, calling out their leaders for failing them.
They blamed President William Ruto for poor governance and making the lives of Kenyans unbearable following heavy taxes.
The youth protested exorbitant taxation, where many Kenyans and mostly the youth are jobless and hopeless.
“We are angry and hungry. The President should not govern or lead the nation as his private property. He should listen to us and drop the Finance Bill,” said some of the youth.
The Finance Bill, 2024 was passed on Tuesday and it now awaits President Ruto to assent it so that it becomes law.
The protests were conducted in the Kenya’s Capital, Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, Kakamega among other major towns in all the 47 counties.
The protests triggered President Ruto to make an urgent Nation address on Tuesday night, claiming that criminals hijacked the peaceful Gen. Z protests.
“As you go to bed tonight, I assure you and your family of maximum security. The government will issue a comprehensive statement about what has happened today,” said President Ruto.
The address comes immediately after Defense Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale deployed KDF soldiers to manage the security situation in the country starting June, 25, 2024.
Meanwhile the United Nation has cautioned Kenya’s government against using excessive force on unarmed protesters.
The UN urged the government to uphold the constitution and the rule of law.
