Protesters Destroy Senate Chambers Over Hardship, Others In Kenya
A part of Kenya’s parliament was engulfed with fire as hundreds of angry protesters forced their way into parliament, breaking through a police clampdown on Tuesday.
A fire outbreak was also seen in City Hall, the office of the governor of Nairobi, and the Supreme Court premises in a viral video of a protest posted by a local Kenya TV station.
Citizens TV Kenya posted videos of City Hall on fire, burning vehicles parked at Kenya’s Supreme Court premises, and some protesters vandalising properties in the parliament amid nationwide protests against the Finance Bill in Kenya on Tuesday.
This comes as another episode of Kenyan youth protest against the Finance Bill imposing a tax on cars, bread and other commodities.
Earlier on Tuesday, human rights organisation Amnesty International condemned William Ruto’s government for secretly abducting citizens amid nationwide protests against the controversial Finance Bill.
The human rights organisation said, “Twelve abductions have taken place over the last five days, with an alarming surge last night.”
Penultimate Tuesday, widespread protests broke out as Kenya’s parliament deliberated on the controversial Finance Bill. The protest has seen a 24-year-old protester killed as Kenya police unleash violence on protesters with water cannons and tear gas.
Although the parliament announced an adjustment to the Finance Bill, Kenyans have remained on the streets, rejecting it entirely.
“We have had a robust public engagement on the proposed Finance Bill,” Mr Ruto tweeted on Wednesday. “We have adjusted the document accordingly. We are glad we are having conversations about issues, and our institutions are working. This is how democracies function.”
Since he assumed office in 2022, Mr Ruto has introduced several taxes to settle Kenya’s national debt, estimated to be about $80 billion, reduce borrowings, and boost revenue generation.
