Kenyan protesters have vowed to continue with their demonstrations against new tax hikes, following a government crackdown on crowds trying to storm parliament on Tuesday, which left at least eight people dead and scores wounded.
While heavily armed officers patrol the streets of Nairobi, protesters have taken the movement to X, using the hashtag #tutanethursday, or “see you on Thursday” in a blend of Swahili and English.
An online outpouring of anger over tax hikes has morphed into a nationwide protest movement calling for the withdrawal of the bill even after the government made concessions. Some have even called for the end of President William Ruto’s two-year-old presidency.
There has been widespread outrage over the use of extreme force after police used live ammunition on protesters who Ruto described as “criminals pretending to be peaceful protesters”. He said in his televised address to the nation on Tuesday evening that the debate about the tax measures, which was passed just before parliament was breached, had been “hijacked by dangerous people“.
“Good morning fellow CRIMINALS Tupatane Thursday To do what CRIMINALS do,” one X user posted.
Six bodies were deposited at Nairobi’s main public mortuary while hundreds more are receiving treatment at the Kenyatta National Hospital, two health officials said.
The government ordered the army deployed to help the police deal with a “security emergency”, though there were no reports of troops on the streets of Nairobi on Wednesday.
Last week, protesters circulated a schedule that called for the occupation of parliament on Tuesday and the occupation of State House, the president’s office and residence, on Thursday.
Lawmakers removed certain tax increases, such as those on bread and cooking oil, from the final version of the finance bill. However, they added other taxes to prevent a budget deficit. Protesters say they want the whole bill scrapped, while some are now demanding that Ruto resign.
The protest movement, lacking formal leadership and mainly organised through social media platforms, drew thousands of Kenyan protesters in dozens of towns and cities on Tuesday.