A day after the infamous Tuesday Anti-Finance Bill Protests, the United Nations issued a statement expressing its disappointment in the Kenyan government.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday, June 26, condemned the current administration for resorting to excessive force against peaceful picketers leading to multiple deaths and injuries.
In his statement, he expressed deep sadness after learning that President William Ruto’s government extended its rage on members of the press, as well as medics on the ground working to save lives.
“I am deeply saddened by the reports of deaths and injuries including of journalists and medical personnel connected to protests and street demonstrations in Kenya,” read part of the UN Secretary General’s statement.
He called on law enforcement to use their power for the good of the people by protecting peaceful protesters and exercising restraint while dealing with them.
“I urge the Kenyan authorities to exercise restraint and call for all demonstrations to occur peacefully,” he added.
The UN Secretary-General, via his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, urged for probes into the fatalities of multiple protesters and emphasized that those accountable must face justice.
His statement came mere hours after thirteen embassies called out the government for brutally suppressing the Anti-Finance Bill demonstrators.
The embassies of Britain, the USA, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Estonia, Norway, Sweden, Romania, and Belgium accused the administration of human rights violations following the shooting deaths of approximately eight Kenyans outside the parliament buildings.
