NAIROBI, Kenya, June 25 - Violent clashes erupted on Tuesday after protesters stormed Parliament in response to the approval of the controversial Finance Bill 2024, resulting in several demonstrators being shot. The fate of those injured remains uncertain, with our reporters witnessing several individuals writhing in pain on the ground, bleeding.
"People have been shot, it is very bad," one protester yelled as he fled from a thick cloud of tear gas. Witnesses reported seeing bodies lying in pools of blood outside Parliament. "I have seen four bodies of the protesters who were shot dead," a witness confirmed.
In the chaos, a section of Parliament and a truck parked just outside the fence were set ablaze. "We have never seen this before, God save Kenya," an elderly man screamed as he ran from the scene.
At least six people were rushed to hospitals in ambulances, while many others lay on the ground, injured and in distress. Thousands of protesters engaged in running battles with the police throughout the day, with security officers firing rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowds. The protests, which were not limited to Nairobi, also erupted in major towns including Nakuru, Mombasa, Eldoret, and Nyeri.
Businesses shut down, and transport was paralyzed in the city as police clashed with demonstrators. The youth-led protests have been calling on MPs to reject the proposed tax increases. The government, which has backtracked on some of the most controversial measures, insists that new taxes are needed to fund spending programs and reduce the debt burden.
Despite the protests, a majority of MPs passed the controversial bill during its second reading. On Tuesday, they debated various amendments to remove some contentious clauses.
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Lawyers and human rights groups have expressed concern over the use of live bullets to quell the riots, as well as the arbitrary arrests and intimidation of activists during earlier protests. Reports have emerged of at least five prominent social media users, including Gabriel Oguda, being abducted at dawn, hours before the demonstrations. The protests have attracted international attention, with Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine and South Africa's Julius Malema expressing their support.
Among those teargassed was former President Barack Obama's sister, Auma, who had joined the protests in the capital Nairobi, in scenes broadcast on live television.
The government has defended the taxes as necessary for raising additional revenue to reduce Kenya's debt. However, in response to public outcry, it scrapped some contentious taxes, including those on bread, cooking oil, and motor vehicle ownership. Despite this, protesters have demanded the complete withdrawal of the bill.
At least two people died, and hundreds were injured in last week's largely peaceful demonstrations. President William Ruto acknowledged the protests and promised to hold talks to address the concerns of the youth leading the demonstrations.
