Two Dead, 17 Injured in Kenya During Violent Protests Against Tax Hikes, Report Says
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Two more people died, and 17 others were injured in Kenya as violent protests against controversial tax hikes continue in different parts of the country, Kenyan media reported on Thursday.
On Wednesday, media reported that 23 people died and about 50 were injured in the protests.
Two new fatalities occurred in the western city of Rongai as protesters were looting local supermarkets, The Standard newspaper reported.
In Homa Bay county, also in Kenya's west, 11 people were injured, including eight children, the NTV Kenya channel reported. A local doctor said on air that her hospital admitted eight patients, all of them with gun shot wounds.
In neighboring Migori county, six people were injured as protesters clashed with the police, the broadcaster said.
Clashes are also continuing in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, where police fired tear gas earlier in the day to disperse the crowd, the Star newspaper reported.
Protests have continued across Kenya since last week, when authorities unveiled a bill imposing a 16% VAT on bread, sugar transportations, mobile and financial services, and foreign currency transactions, as well as a 2.5% excise on cars and vegetable oil. As protests ignited, President William Ruto refused to sign the bill and sent it back to parliament for reconsideration.
