Thousands of assembly in Kenya to celebrate the anniversary of the anti -acquisition demonstrations News protest

Law groups say at least 60 people were killed last year by security forces in weeks of protests led by youth against the planned tax height.

Thousands of people moved to the streets in Kenya to celebrate a year since people stormed Parliament at the height of freedom DemonstrationsDespite fears that the state -backed gangs and police violence will meet them.

Law groups said at least 60 people were killed last year because of the security forces in weeks of protests against the tax height and the terrible economic situation of Kenyan youth. On Wednesday, activists and families of the victims called for peaceful demonstrations to celebrate the anniversary of the most day of the disturbances.

The police prevented the main roads leading to the central business area in the capital, while government buildings are immune to shaving wires.

Thousands of demonstrators, most of them young people, waved Kenyan relations and paintings with pictures of the appearances who were killed last year and chanted, “Roto must go,” referring to President William Roto, who raised the proposed taxes of protests led by youth last year.

“I came here as a Kenyan young man to protest, because our right for our Kenyan colleagues who were killed last year. The police here … are supposed to protect us, but they kill us,” said Eve, a 24 -year -old woman, news agency to Agence France -Presse.

“It is extremely important for young people to celebrate on June 25 because they lost people who resemble them, and those who speak like them … who are fighting for the good rule,” added Angel Mabouth, head of the Youth Association of the Jubilee opposition party, added.

Police brutality

The anniversary comes amid the high anger Police brutalityIn particular, after the 31 -year -old blogger and teacher, Albert Oujuang, were killed earlier this month after his arrest for criticizing a senior officer.

He was charged with killing six people, including three police officers, were killed on Tuesday for the killing of Oujuj. They all admitted that they are not guilty.

Police said that the protests are permitted as long as they are “peaceful and unarmed.”

But a group of peaceful demonstrators was attacked last week by a large gang of “fools” motorcycles, as is known in Kenya, gunmen with whips, clubs and work alongside the police.

On Tuesday, the US embassies, the United Kingdom, Canada and other Western countries issued a joint statement on X urging all concerned to “facilitate peaceful demonstrations and refrain from violence.”

The statement said: “The use of officers with ordinary clothes in unique vehicles leads to the erosion of the public’s confidence.” The rights campaign condemned the presence of unidentified police officers in the protests last year.

In a statement late on Tuesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Tuesday that any police violations will be addressed through government institutions, including parliament and the judiciary.

She said: “The ministry reminds all these diplomatic partnerships that thrive better in mutual respect and open channels and recognize the unique governance contexts of each other.”

There is also an increasing discontent among young people towards Roto, who reached power in 2022 promising rapid economic progress.

Many were disappointed because of the continued recession, corruption and high taxes, even after last year’s protests forced Roto to cancel an unpopular financing bill. His government was in pain to avoid direct tax rise this year.

But the repeated disappearance of government critics – rights groups have returned more than 80 since last year’s protests, with dozens of missing persons – prompted many to accuse Roto of returning Kenya to the dark days of its dictatorship in the 1980s and 1990s.

Roto had previously promised to end the kidnapping, but he was not aware of a speech on Tuesday, pledging to “stand” alongside the police.

“You cannot use the force against the police, insult, or threaten the police. You threaten our nation,” warned the demonstrators.