The Kenyan High Court has authorised the use of military force to restore order in the country after days of anti-tax protests had at some point, overwhelmed police.
Over 20 people were reportedly been killed in the nationwide protests that was spearheaded by the youths opposed to the government’s plans to increase taxes.
The Law Society of Kenya, which had previously petitioned the court to call the army back to the barracks, had said that it “respects but disagrees” with the ruling.
Recall that President William Ruto had bowed to pressure on Wednesday and announce that he would withdraw the finance bill containing the unpopular tax proposals. The withdrawal had come a day after parliament was briefly stormed and set aflame by furious protesters.
The finance bill had been aimed at raising taxes to help alleviate the country’s debt burdens, as insisted by lenders including the International Monetary Fund.
Many protesters are still in doubt and wondering if the president will implement the austerity measures he had announced on Wednesday.
What They’re Saying
A judge had remarked that the military deployment was crucial to safeguarding government installations but he had given the authorities two days to explain how long the deployment would last, along with its rules of engagement.
“To deploy the military in a blanket manner without defining their scope of operation and the duration of their operation is a dangerous trend that can bring about militarisation of the country.” Justice Lawrence Mugambi had ruled.
Meanwhile, a government spokesman, Isaac Mawura, had informed the BBC’s Newsday programme that the withdrawal of the bill was a “great blow to the government as it had left a “gaping hole” in the budget.
“It is really a big setback,” Mwaura had said, blaming “misinformed” Kenyans for opposing it.
