A Nairobi mosque held the funeral for 19-year-old Ibrahim Kamau on Friday, who was shot during a protest on Tuesday against the government’s now-withdrawn proposed tax bill. Mourners paid their respects and carried Kamau’s coffin through the streets of Nairobi following the funeral service.
The protest on Tuesday saw demonstrators storming the parliament, leading to police opening fire. The chaos resulted in multiple fatalities, with reports indicating as many as 22 people were killed.
Despite President William Ruto’s withdrawal of the controversial tax bill, anti-tax protesters continued to gather in Nairobi on Thursday. Police responded by hurling tear gas to disperse the crowds. The finance legislation had sparked widespread resistance, particularly among young Kenyans struggling with the rising cost of living.
Protesters expressed distrust in President Ruto, despite his decision to send the finance bill back to parliament with a commitment to make budget cuts instead of imposing new taxes and fees on items and services such as egg imports and bank transfers.
