Three protesters protesting against a new finance bill have been killed as dissent seen as the most direct assault on the government in decades, led to chaos outside the complex where police had opened fire.
A Kenyan paramedic said at least 10 people had been killed and a Reuters journalist outside the parliament counted the bodies of at least five protesters. Some parts of Kenya’s parliament building are up in flames as angry protesters respond to police action against them.
The protesters demanded that legislators reject a controversial bill imposing new taxes on a country where frustrations over the high cost of living have simmered for years.
The protesters outmanoeuvred police to gain access to the parliament shortly after legislators voted to pass the bill.
The parliamentarians fled through a tunnel, but protesters allowed opposition legislators who voted against the bill to walk safely out of the building.
The office of the Nairobi governor, a member of the ruling UDA, was also torched. The office is located near parliament. Police water cannons were being used to extinguish the fire.
“We’re coming for every politician,” the protesters were heard shouting. Police officers also fired live ammunition and threw tear-gas canisters at protesters who sought treatment at a medical shelter set up at a church near the parliament complex.
The Kenya Human Rights Commission shared a video of officers shooting at protesters and said they would be held to account.
Last week, two people died in similar protests. The Kenya Law Society President Faith Odhiambo said Tuesday that 50 Kenyans, including her personal assistant, had been “abducted” by people believed to be police officers.
Most of those missing are among the organisers of the protest or those who have been most vocal against the bill. They were taken from their homes at night, and some from their work places and public places, civil society groups confirmed
Parliament Speaker Moses Wetangula had directed the inspector general of police to provide information on the whereabouts of those the opposition said were abducted.
The finance bill seeks to raise additional $2.7billion in taxes as part of its effort to reduce the heavy debt load, with interest payments alone cleaning out 37% of annual revenue.
President Ruto has made concessions, promising to scrap proposed new taxes on bread, cooking oil, car ownership and financial transactions. This however, has not been enough to satisfy protesters.
President William Ruto was outside the capital attending an African Union retreat. On Sunday, he said he was proud of the young people who had come out to exercise their democratic duty and said he would engage the youth on their concerns.