Kenya police chief resigns amid bloody anti-tax protests

Kenya’s police chief Japhet Koome has resigned after weeks of violent protests over proposed tax hikes that left more than 40 people dead.

Human rights groups have accused police of shooting dozens of protesters, some fatally, and kidnapping or arbitrarily arresting hundreds more.

The resignations come a day after President William Ruto fired most of his cabinet, following pressure from a protest movement largely coordinated online by young Kenyans.

Two weeks ago, protesters stormed parliament, shortly after lawmakers passed a controversial finance bill. Police responded by opening fire on protesters in the streets.

President Ruto later withdrew the bill but that has not satisfied protesters, who want him to resign and are planning more protests to demand further reforms.

Kenya’s presidential palace said deputy police commissioner Douglas Kanja will take over the force with immediate effect.

Amid the biggest crisis of his two years as president, Mr Ruto met opposition leader Raila Odinga earlier this week and announced plans to set up a 150-member dialogue committee to help find solutions to the country’s problems.

After firing key cabinet members on Thursday, including the attorney general, the president said he would consult widely to form a broadly based government.

The proposed tax measures are aimed at helping to ease the country’s debt burden of more than $80bn (£63bn). Around 60% of Kenya’s revenue is used to pay down debt.

But protesters insist the government must first cut spending, saying there is too much waste and corruption. To meet this need, the president last week announced a number of austerity measures..