How the international media reported on anti-State protests

Tuesday’s violent protests across the country dominated the headlines across the world, with major news outlets dedicating acres of space and airtime to the deadly confrontations that leftover ten people dead and hundreds injured.

The CNN carried a banner headline “Kenya’s president calls protests ‘treasonous’ after police fire live rounds at demonstrators” detailing how thousands of protestors stormed Parliament and occupied it, leading to the shooting of at least five people.

Kenya is in the grip of nationwide protests against proposed tax hikes, culminating in Tuesday’s “total shutdown” of the country, which quickly turned violent as police used tear gas and live rounds on protesters,” reported CNN’s Kenyan journalist Larry Madowo.

Quell protests

“The controversial finance bill has unleashed widespread protests movement vowing for “7 Days of Rage.” Last week, the government scrapped some tax increases, including a proposed 16 per cent value-added tax on bread along with taxes on motor vehicles, vegetable oil and mobile money transfers. But the concessions have not been enough to quell protests amid the rising cost of living,” the report said.

The BBC, under a headline “Kenyan president faces tough choices after day of bloodshed” reported how President Ruto addressed the nation late in the evening, claiming legitimate protests had been hijacked by criminals.

“After a day of protest, turmoil and bloodshed, Kenyan President William Ruto addressed the nation with a message of sadness and strength”, read the BBC story.

The news piece further said, “legitimate protests against his policies had been hijacked by a group of organised criminals.

Tough choices

The article went on and said that the President had warned that his government would use all means at its disposal to prevent a repeat of the violence.

“Today’s events mark a critical point on how we respond to threats to our peace,” he said. “We will ensure a situation of this nature does not recur again,” the report quoted the president.

“The president’s message was an attempt to seize back control after days of street protests which have grown in strength and number. But in the longer term some around Ruto must fear that things might not be so simple, and that the prospect of tough choices remain,” the story stated.

Al Jazeera on the other hand put the death toll from the protests at thirteen.

It quoted the head of the Kenya Medical Association stating that thirteen protestors were gunned down during the violent protests that engulfed Nairobi and 34 other counties.

It added that President Ruto had ordered security forces to thwart any effort to undermine the security and stability of the country.

Under the banner headline “It’s treasonous, desperate Kenyan government send in the Army after thousands of protestors storm Parliament resulting in the deaths of ten people after police opened fire during deadly tax reform riots,” UK’s Daily Mail went big on the protests, reporting how Nairobi was plunged into mayhem for the better part of Tuesday.

The Reuters news agency on the other hand carried a headline “Kenya’s president says tax protests “hijacked” after they turn violent.”