- At least five protesters were shot dead by police in Kenya
- Protests erupted over new tax proposals that would see a 16% tax on bread and a tax on sanitary pads
- Protesters managed to storm the parliamentary building, causing damage and setting it on fire
- The military has been deployed to control the protests
- The government has partially rolled back some of the bill but protesters demand its complete withdrawal.
Five killed and parliament ablaze in Kenya tax protests
At least five protesters were shot dead by police in Kenya, and part of the parliament building in Nairobi was set on fire as demonstrations against new tax proposals intensified. An enraged crowd broke through police barriers to storm the parliament before igniting parts of it.
In a Tuesday evening address, President William Ruto declared that all measures would be used to prevent “dangerous criminals” from undermining national security. He has deployed the military to control the protests.
“There are some things that are hard to understand, like how can you impose 16% tax on bread? How can you tax sanitary pads?”
Derrick Mwathu, 24, referring to some of the original proposals
The protests, driven by opposition to a finance bill proposing several tax increases, have been ongoing for days but escalated sharply on Tuesday as the bill was passed in parliament. Protesters vandalised the interior of the parliament and set it on fire, even stealing the ceremonial mace, a symbol of legislative authority.
Police responded with live ammunition, killing at least five people, according to the Kenya Medical Association. Hundreds were injured by rubber bullets and tear gas. At a Nairobi cathedral serving as a medical camp, soldiers forcibly removed doctors. Another medical unit was set up outside Kenyatta National Hospital.
Despite the government’s partial rollback of the bill, protesters demand its complete withdrawal.
The protests have garnered international attention, with support from prominent African figures like Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine and South African politician Julius Malema. Western nations have expressed concern over the violence and urged for calm.
- Kenya floods raise cholera risk as WHO records 44 cases
- Kenya orders flood evacuations as it warns dams could spill