Recent anti-government protests in Kenya to protest a new tax bill have left 39 people dead, the official human rights watchdog said today.

“According to the data we have, 39 people were killed and another 361 were injured in the context of protests in the country,” the Kenya National Human Rights Commission (KNHRC) said in a statement.

In addition, the Commission said it recorded 32 cases of “enforced or involuntary disappearances” and 627 arrests of protesters.

This report comes on the eve of a new day of mobilization initiated by the country’s youth against the government of President William Ruto.

A vociferous protest against the budget bill, born in mid-June on social media, largely mobilized the youth, before sweeping Kenyans of all ages in its wake.

The anti-tax slogan evolved into a protest against President Ruto who, after coming to power in 2022, created and increased several taxes and fees that hit Kenyans’ purchasing power hard.

Although several demonstrations have been held since June 18 without serious incidents, the day of mobilization on June 25 descended into chaos: protesters stormed Parliament, which had just passed the much-criticized 2024-2025 budget bill and the police opened fire on the crowd using live bullets.

“The Commission continues to condemn in the strongest terms the unjustified violence against protesters, medical personnel, lawyers, journalists, and inside safe spaces such as churches, emergency medical centers and ambulances,” he added.

“We maintain the view that the violence used against the protesters was excessive and disproportionate,” he said.