EFF statement on the tragic killings of protesters in Kenya
26 June 2024
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) strongly condemns the brutal actions of the Kenyan police, under the orders of President William Ruto that have resulted in the tragic deaths of five individuals protesting the Finance Bill 2024. The use of live ammunition on unarmed citizens is utterly unacceptable and a blatant violation of human rights.
On Tuesday afternoon, protestors marched on Kenya's parliament and police officers escalated tensions by firing live rounds into crowds, leading to the deaths of five people and injuring more than 30 others. Instead of deescalating the conflict, the Kenyan govemment chose to exacerbate it by deploying police, and have also chosen to deploy the army under the guise of addressing a "security emergency."
President Ruto's subsequent statements, labelling some protesters as "criminals" and threatening to counter the "violence and anarchy," demonstrate a profound disregard for the legitimate grievances of the Kenyan people. This oppressive response highlights the President's willingness to resort to deadly force to push through his Finance Bill, which clearly serves the interests of Western powers at the expense of his own citizens.
This Finance Bill 2024, which aims to extort over $2.7 billion in taxes from an already overtaxed and struggling Kenyan populace, is a direct consequence of the Intemational Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank's recommendations. These predatory organisations entangle developing countries in oppressive loans and enforce austerity measures that stunt economic growth and development, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and dependency.