Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Tuesday, June 25, announced the deployment of the military to help police officers manage the ongoing demonstrations.
In a gazette notice, the CS stated that the move was reached after a section of demonstrators resorted to interfering with critical infrastructure.
According to Duale, the Tuesday protests resulted in a security emergency that needed the intervention of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).
“Under Article 241 (3) (b) of the Constitution of Kenya as read with sections 31 (1) (a), 31 (1) (c), 33 (1), 34 (1) and 34 (2) of the Kenya Defence Forces Act, (Cap. 199), the Kenya Defence Forces is deployed on the 25th June, 2024 in support of the National Police Service,” read part of the gazette notice.
“This is in response to the security emergency caused by the ongoing violent protests in various parts of the republic of Kenya resulting in destruction and breaching of critical infrastructure.”
On Tuesday Kenyans across the country took to the streets to demonstrate after Members of Parliament passed the contentious Finance Bill 2024.
However, the mostly peaceful protests quickly culminated into a violent one after the government decided to deploy its police officers to manage the demonstrators.
The demonstrators while expressing their fury turned to the police officers and began pelting objects at them.
In response to the provocation, the officers began dispersing tear gas canisters even as demonstrators in Nairobi threatened to access the parliament buildings.
As chaos intensified, the rowdy demonstrators overwhelmed police officers and gained access to the Bunge Tower, where parliamentarians officiate their meetings.
The move prompted a swift and decisive response from the officers who allegedly fired live bullets at a section of protestors, killing and maiming some.
While confirming reports on police shootings, the Kenya Human Rights Commission disclosed that about five anti-Finance Bill protestors had been shot.
According to the KHRC, police officers manning the parliament buildings reportedly shot five protestors, killing one.
The commission condemned the killing terming it as unacceptable and a grave violation of human rights.
"Police have shot four protesters, as witnessed by KHRC, killing one. We strongly condemn the police killing. Such actions are unacceptable and constitute a grave violation of human rights," the Kenya Human Rights Commission noted in a statement.
