At least five protesters were shot dead by police in Kenya, and part of the parliament building was set on fire as demonstrations against new tax proposals intensified.
A furious crowd broke through police barriers to storm parliament in Nairobi, setting parts of it ablaze.
In a Tuesday evening address, President William Ruto stated that all measures would be used to “thwart any attempts by dangerous criminals to undermine the security and stability of our country,” and he has deployed the military to quell the protests.
Protests against an unpopular finance bill, which includes several tax hikes, have been ongoing for days but escalated on Tuesday when MPs passed an amended bill.
Protesters broke into parliament, vandalizing the interior and setting parts of the complex on fire, including stealing the ceremonial mace, symbolizing legislative authority.
Police used live ammunition, killing at least five people according to the Kenya Medical Association. A BBC reporter at the scene saw bodies lying in pools of blood on the street.
Referring to some of the proposal in the original bill, 24-year-old Derrick Mwathu said, “There are some things that are hard to understand, like how can you impose 16% tax on bread? How can you tax sanitary pad”?
President Ruto vowed a tough response to what he called “violence and anarchy.”
“It is not in order or even conceivable that criminals pretending to be peaceful protesters can reign terror against the people, their elected representatives, and the institutions established under our constitution and expect to go scot-free,” Ruto added.
Hundreds were reportedly injured by rubber bullets and tear gas.
According to reports, at a Nairobi cathedral where a medical camp was set up for injured protesters, doctors were being forced out of the building by soldiers.
Another temporary unit was set up outside the emergency unit at Kenyatta National Hospital.
Doctors left a medical camp they set up for protesters in a Nairobi cathedral after being forced out by military personnel.
Former president Uhuru Kenyatta urged dialogue, saying Kenya’s leaders should “know that power and authority is donated to them by the people.”
Although the government has rowed back on some proposals in the original bill, protesters demanded that it be withdrawn entirely.
“Our voice must be heard… We are the generation that is coming up, so they need to hear us,” said 23-year-old Maureen Awuor.
The protests have made headlines across Africa and beyond.
Two of Africa’s leading anti-establishment figures, Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine and South African politician Julius Malema, have expressed support for the protesters.
Western countries have expressed concern at the violence and urged calm.
