Sections of Kenya’s parliament were on fire on as protesters overwhelmed police to storm the compound where lawmakers had just passed a contentious bill that would introduce a raft of new taxes, Reuters witness said
Kenya’s internet network service is experiencing a major disruption following deadly crackdown by police on protesters in anti-tax demonstrations, internet monitor Netblocks said on Tuesday.
The United States is closely monitoring the situation in Nairobi, where police opened fire on demonstrators trying to storm the Kenyan parliament, and is urging calm, a White House National Security Council spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Ambassadors and high commissioners in Kenya from countries including the United States have said they are “deeply concerned” by the violence in the country.
“We regret the tragic loss of life and injuries sustained including by the use of live fire,” they continued, adding that they “welcome” civic engagement by “all Kenyans, in particular the youth, in addressing issues of vital public concern.”
“We call for restraint on all sides, and encourage all leaders to find peaceful solutions through constructive dialogue,” they said.
The Internet monitoring site NetBlocks has reported that there is a “major disruption” to internet connectivity in Kenya on Tuesday, following widespread protests in the country that include the breaching of the Kenyan Parliament.
The outages have also impacted neighboring countries, including Burundi, Uganda and Rwanda, NetBlocks said.
The site added that “the incident is likely to limit coverage of events on the ground where protests are held.”
Kenyan police officers and security personnel take position to protect the Kenyan Parliament as protesters try to storm the building in downtown Nairobi, Kenya, on June 25.
At least ten people were killed and 31 people injured in protests in Kenya on Tuesday, a joint statement released by several human rights groups said.
“Despite the assurance by the Government that the right to assembly would be protected and facilitated, today’s protests have spiralled into violence. Human rights observers and medical officers have reported several incidents of human rights violation,” the statement said.
It was released by Amnesty International Kenya, the Kenya Medical Association, the Law Society of Kenya and Police Reforms Working Group Kenya
According to the statement, at least five people were shot dead. At least 31 have been injured, with 13 of these people shot with live bullets, four with rubber bullets, and three hit with launcher canisters, it continued.CNN has reached out to the Kenyan police for comment.
The statement also said that 21 people were abducted or disappeared in the last 24 hours, some of whom who were since released. There have also been at least 52 arrests, it said.
“We urge the State and all parties to de-escalate the situation and stop the use of lethal force to protect life,” the statement said.
“The scenes of police officers shooting at medical emergency center at Holy Basilica must cease immediately. Again, the use of live bullets must now stop. Safe passage for all emergencies services to evacuate and treat the many wounded is now urgent.
Vehicles parked at Kenya’s Supreme Court have been set on fire, CNN’s affiliate Citizen TV Kenya reported Tuesday.
The network reported that at least two vehicles were ablaze. The Supreme Court building is close to Nairobi’s City Hall, which was set on fire Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the dining area of the Kenyan Parliament is in disarray after protesters entered the premises Tuesday, video by CNN affiliate NTV shows.
In the video, furniture is overturned, plates are smashed, and food is scattered on the floor. The room’s windows are also smashed.
According to NTV, some members of parliament were having lunch in the dining area when protesters entered the parliament.
A television in a room leading from the dining area was smashed, and flags were seen on the floor elsewhere in the parliament.
Kenya’s Red Cross said some of its vehicles have been attacked and its staff and volunteers were injured during the ongoing protests in Kenya.
It did not say which people or groups injured its staff and volunteers and attacked its vehicles. The Kenya Red Cross said in a post on X that there are rumors that it was transporting members of the Kenyan parliament.
“We have no contact or role in transporting persons other than the injured,” it said. “The rumors must stop. We can’t provide life-saving interventions without access and safety for our staff and volunteers.”
The humanitarian organization posted images of smashed windscreens and broken glass inside vehicles.
“It is quite unfair that we are being accused of whisking members of parliament while our staff and volunteers put their lives in danger to provide critical medical care to those in need,” it continued.
Auma Obama, the half-sister of former United States President Barack Obama, was teargassed by police during an interview with CNN live on air, while protesting against the bill.
“I can’t even see anymore, we’re being teargassed,” Obama said in dramatic footage captured by a CNN team on the ground
Obama, a Kenyan-British activist, was speaking to CNN’s Larry Madowo alongside a group of young protesters when the group was teargassed in Nairobi.
“Look at what’s happening. Young Kenyans are demonstrating for their rights. They are demonstrating with flags and banners,” Obama said.
Protesters run to take cover outside the Kenyan Parliament after storming the building during a nationwide strike to protest against tax hikes and the Finance Bill 2024 in downtown Nairobi, Kenya, on June 25.
Nairobi’s City Hall, the office of the Governor of Nairobi, has been set on fire amidst the protests in Kenya, live visuals from CNN affiliate Citizen TV showed.
A fire can be seen blazing through a lower ground window, with other windows also emitting smoke.According to Citizen TV, some people were seen removing furniture, including chairs, from the building.
Earlier in the day, the ceremonial mace was also stolen from Kenya’s parliament as protesters stormed the assembly.
Kenyan lawmakers who were at the parliament building escaped through an underground channel, CNN affiliate NTV Kenya reported.
According to NTV Kenya, lawmakers were evacuated as police went up against protesters, escaping to the nearby government building of Bunge Towers.
Kenyan police fired live rounds at demonstrators in Nairobi on Tuesday, as outrage swelled against a controversial finance bill that has sparked widespread protests.
A CNN team witnessed the scenes and observed two bodies lying motionless on the ground.
What’s happening? Kenya is in the grip of nationwide protests against proposed tax hikes, which is culminating in a planned “total shutdown” of the country.
The demonstrations, sparked by the Finance Bill 2024, have seen citizens rally under the banner of “7 Days of Rage,” as the nation faces more days of upheaval.
The government was already forced to amend its bill after dozens of demonstrators rallied outside the country’s parliament building last week. Among the taxes suspended was a 16% value-added tax on bread and a 2.5% tax on motor vehicles, a statement from Kenya’s presidency said.
