Kenya updates: Protesters storm parliament, deaths reported

Addressing the nation on Tuesday evening, President William Ruto said the security of Kenyans "remained his utmost priority" after protests against tax increases turned deadly in Nairobi.

Ruto said the debate over tax hikes had been "hijacked by dangerous people" and described the day's events as "treasonous."

He vowed to take a tough line against "violence and anarchy" and said peaceful protests had been "infiltrated by criminal elements."

"We shall provide a full, effective and expeditious response to today's treasonous events," he said. 

The Kenyan president called the storming of parliament a security threat and vowed that such unrest won't happen again "at whatever cost." 

"I have deployed security to check elements trying to undermine our country," Ruto said.

Ruto did not address the bill in his speech.

The Kenyan military was ordered to support police officers as protesters take to the streets against proposed tax hikes.

Defense Minister Aden Bare Duale said soldiers were acting "in response to the security emergency caused by the ongoing violent protests" across Kenya that resulted "in destruction and breaching of critical infrastructure."

DW Kenya correspondent Edith Kimani explained why so many young people are angry over the controversial finance bill.

The Kenyan government of is hoping to raise $2.7 billion through additional taxes to reduce the budget deficit and that does not "look pretty on the payslips," Kimani added.

"Upon close inspection, young people found the taxes being suggested simply didn't make sense for them," she added.

The DW reporter described the protesters as "young people who are frustrated" and "seeing no way out, decided to take to the streets to have their voices heard" despite having no formal structure or leadership.

Kimani  also noted that Kenya's population was young in general, with around 60% of it being either Millennials or Gen-Z.

"These are the people who are most affected by these increased taxes, and that's why they've organized themselves," she said. "The movement has really just spun out of a need and it's really, truly been organic without any real leadership."

The protests against the bill first turned violent last week — when the bill was introduced to the legislature, according to Kimani.

"Evidently, Members of Parliament have decided not to listen to them," Kimani said, referring to protesters.

Amnesty International said that at least five people were shot during clashes between police and protesters in Nairobi. Another 31 people were injured, the organization said. There were also 52 arrests, according to the human rights' watchdog.

Images and videos circulating online purportedly show several protesters with bullet wounds in the Kenyan capital.

Previously, the Kenya Human Rights Commission said police have shot four protesters, killing at least one.

"We strongly condemn the police killing. Such actions are unacceptable and constitute a grave violation of human rights. Justice and accountability are imperative. We will vigorously push for police accountability" the non-governmental organization said.

The White House urged calm in Kenya, a close US partner in Africa, after protests against proposed tax hikes escalated into deadly violence in Nairobi.

"The United States is closely monitoring the situation in Nairobi. We condemn violence in all its forms and urge calm," a National Security Council spokesperson said.

On Tuesday, lawmakers gathered in parliament to debate the controversial bill that would levy a series of additional taxes to close a budget deficit. The motion has angered many, particularly young people, in the East African country where most of the population is already struggling with a cost of living crisis.

Ambassadors and high commissioners in Kenya from countries including Germany, the UK, Canada, Finland, Denmark, Norway, among others, said in a joint statement that they were deeply concerned by the violence they had witnessed in many parts of the country during the recent protests against proposed tax hikes.

They said they were "shocked by the scenes witnessed outside the Kenyan Parliament." They urged restraint on all sides and encouraged all leaders to find peaceful solutions to the dispute.

"We regret the tragic loss of life and injuries sustained including by the use of live fire," they said in the statement shared by the British High Commission on social media.

Internet monitoring site Netblocks said there was "major disruption" to internet connectivity nationwide as the East African nation remained embroiled in a deadly escalation of protests.

"Live network data show a major disruption to internet connectivity in #Kenya; the incident comes amidst a deadly crackdown by police on #RejectFinanceBill2024 protesters a day after authorities claimed there would be no internet shutdown," Netblocks said.

The Kenya Red Cross Society said its vehicles were attacked amid protests and their staff and volunteers were injured as a result.

"We can't provide life-saving interventions without access and safety for our staff and volunteers. It is crucial that we are granted access to continue our humanitarian efforts without hindrance," the Kenyan Red Cross said.

The organization did not specify who was behind the attack. 

Protesters argue that the government's controversial finance bill on raising taxes will weaken the economy and raise the cost of living for Kenyans.

But the International Monetary Fund has said that Kenya's government needs to increase revenues to reduce its budget deficit.

William Ruto, who was elected in 2022 on a pledge to uplift lives of the poor, has claimed the tax hikes were a necessary measure to alleviate debt. 

All three of the major US credit agencies — Fitch, Moody's and S&P — consider Kenyan sovereign debt to be "highly speculative" as a form of investment, and all three define the outlook for the country as negative with further downgrades likely in the short or medium term. In other words, they are not confident the government will be able to service its debts.

The problem has been exacerbated by the Kenyan shilling currency losing value against the US dollar in recent years. Despite a fairly sharp recovery in recent months following its low-point in February, it's still worth more than 10% less against the dollar than it was five years ago.

The Kenya Human Rights Commission has shared a video of police officers shooting at protesters, saying they would be held to account.

Police opened fire with live ammunition as demonstrators tried to storm the Kenyan parliament as lawmakers discussed an unpopular bill to raise taxes amid a cost of living crisis in the country. Reports quickly emerged of several people dead and dozens wounded.

Two people were killed in similar protests, by mainly young people, last week.

"Police have shot four protesters, as witnessed by KHRC, killing one," the commission said. "We strongly condemn the police killing. Such actions are unacceptable and constitute a grave violation of human rights. Justice and accountability are imperative. We will vigorously push for police accountability."

Rights watchdogs have also accused security forces of breaking the law by abducting demonstrators.

Kenya Law Society President Faith Odhiambo said on Tuesday that 50 Kenyans, including her personal assistant, had been "abducted" by people believed to be police officers.

Protests turned violent in Nairobi on Tuesday, as lawmakers met to approve a finance bill that has sparked nationwide protests through the month.

Last week, the government of President William Ruto was forced to scrap some tax increases that were initially included in its finance bill after people took the streets in protest.

One of the reforms that was dropped, for example, included a 16% sales tax (or value-added tax) on bread. 

"We are already paying taxes and the little that we are paying — they are not doing much with it... So how can we trust them with more?" said one protester speaking with DW last week.

Hundreds, mostly young people, have assembled en masse to voice their opposition."We are not powerless, we have a voice," said another protester speaking with DW last week.

Then too, police cracked down on protesters, in what rights groups say was an unnecessarily violent response.

Footage broadcast on privately owned Citizen TV showed that a section of the parliament building was on fire after it was stormed by protesters.

Lawmakers, who were inside passing legislation to raise taxes, were said to have escaped the complex via tunnel.

The channel also showed footage of the aftermath of the storming of the parliament, as security forces surveyed the damage. It showed broken glass and furniture and objects burning on the grass outside.

The channel also showed that a fire had erupted at about the same time at the governor's office in Kenya's capital, Nairobi. The footage showed police trying to douse the flames at City Hall, where the office is located, with water cannon.

Reports emerged that some of the protesters had been shot and that several people had been killed. Reports varied significantly in the number of fatalities, from between one to 10.

Some demonstrators entered parliament at about the same time, with the building set on fire soon afterward.

Police were deplyoed in force to meet hundreds of chanting demonstrators in Nairobi's business district — previously the focus of protest — on Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile, officers wearing full riot gear blocked access to Kenya's parliament to the predominantly young protesters. The legislature was debating a finance bill containing the tax proposals.

President William Ruto's government has proposed tax hikes in its annual finance bill, which lawmakers must back by June 30.

Police also stopped protesters from reaching State House — the site of the president's office and residence.