At least 200 injured, 100 arrested in Kenya tax protests: rights groups | News of the demonstrations

Local media reported that an unidentified man died from a gunshot wound to the thigh during a crackdown by riot police in Nairobi.

At least 200 people have been injured and more than 100 arrested across Kenya in nationwide protests against the government's tax hike plans, rights groups said.

Five groups, including Amnesty International, said in a joint statement late Thursday that at least 105 protesters were arrested in a violent crackdown by riot police that included the use of tear gas, cannons, water and rubber balls.

In the capital, Nairobi, at least 200 people were injured, with groups reporting “soft tissue injuries and tear gas inhalation”, including six “hit by cars while fleeing police” and five victims of rubber bullets.

The spent cartridges at the scene involved the use of live ammunition, they said.

Local media reported that an unidentified person died at Bliss Medical Center in Nairobi from a gunshot wound to the thigh received during the protest. These details match a police report that said a 29-year-old man died Thursday evening while treating a thigh wound at the same hospital.

“We continue to urge the national police to stop the use of excessive force, intimidation and arbitrary and unlawful arrests of Kenyans,” said the groups, which also included the Kenya Medical Association, Law Society of Kenya, the Defenders Coalition and the Independent Forensic Unit.

Protests against the budget proposals, which aim to raise $2.7 billion in additional taxes, widened on Thursday to 19 of Kenya's 47 counties. Nairobi's central business district was paralyzed as mounted riot police threw tear gas and opened water cannons on protesters.

Protesters, who began their demonstrations on Tuesday, are demanding that lawmakers vote against the legislation, which is expected to be burdensome for Kenyan workers, entrepreneurs and consumers. They say President William Ruto's administration has reneged on its promise to cut taxes and the cost of living.

The new taxes would include a 2.75 percent levy on income for the national health insurance plan, as well as an increase in taxes on vegetable oil and fuel, which would increase the cost of production and pass on the consumer.

Proposals to introduce a 16 percent value-added tax on bread and a new annual tax on motor vehicles were removed from the legislation on Tuesday after a meeting between Ruto and ruling party members.

But those protesting Thursday said the amendments did not go far enough and that they wanted lawmakers to reject the budget law altogether.

Despite protests, parliamentarians adopted the finance bill on second reading on Thursday. There will be a third and final reading of the contentious measure next week. The final version must be submitted before June 30.