Finance Bill: African Union urges Kenya to respect protesters rights, release detainees
![Finance Bill: African Union urges Kenya to respect protesters rights, release detainees Finance Bill: African Union urges Kenya to respect protesters rights, release detainees](https://publish.eastleighvoice.co.ke/mugera_lock/uploads/2024/06/Screenshot-2024-06-18-131951.jpg)
By Mwangi Maina |
The statement urged the Kenyan government to engage with all stakeholders, including civil society organisations, community leaders, and the affected populations, to address these concerns.
The African Union has reminded the Kenyan government that "peaceful protest is protected under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights" and urged it to explore "alternative measures to alleviate the financial burden on ordinary citizens."
The African Union Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has also called on President William Ruto's government to immediately release "individuals arrested for participating in peaceful protests, with utmost respect for due process of the law under Article 7 of the African Charter."
Keep reading
- Kenyan police use excessive force because they’re serving political elites, not the public – policy analyst
- Explainer: Applicable procedure and implications of rejection of Finance Bill 2024
- Explainer: What's next after Kenya withdraws finance bill amid protests?
- Anti-Finance Bill protests: Court declines to nullify deployment of KDF troops
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the day of the protests, the body's Country Rapporteur on Human Rights in Kenya, Solomon Ayele Dersso, expressed concern over recent developments related to a proposed tax bill in Kenya.
"The African Commission is concerned that the protests on June 18 have led to the arrest of over 300 individuals and underscores that peaceful protest is protected under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Charter)," the statement said.
"The African Commission reminds the Government of Kenya that when adopting such measures that would directly affect the socio-economic wellbeing of citizens, most notably the most vulnerable sections of society, it is a pre-requisite that affected people are adequately consulted and their concerns are adequately addressed to ensure that such measures are in compliance with the African Charter," it added.
The statement urged the Kenyan government to engage with all stakeholders, including civil society organisations, community leaders, and the affected populations, to address these concerns.
"A participatory approach is crucial to ensure that the voices of the most vulnerable are heard and considered in policy-making processes," the statement said.