Chaos in Kenya as thousands of protesters storm parliament and ten people are killed as cops open fire during riots over tax reforms

Kenya’s capital has been thrown into chaos by riots over tax hikes, with a fire breaking out in the country’s parliament and police opening fire with live ammunition on crowds of angry protesters.

Thousands of anti-tax protesters broke through barriers erected by police outside the parliament building in Nairobi, forcing lawmakers to evacuate.

Ten people were killed in the violent clashes, which saw police fire live ammunition at anti-government protesters. Paramedics reported that at least 50 people were injured by the gunfire.

Video shows smoke rising from parts of the government building as crowds swarmed through the gates, also throwing projectiles.

Protesters poured into the complex where lawmakers debated controversial tax hike proposals that have sparked widespread anger.

Medics have set up temporary emergency shelters in several cities with supplies donated by Kenyans. Two people were killed last week during protests on a much smaller scale.

The latest round of protests took place today as lawmakers voted on the financing bill that would introduce new taxes, including an eco-tax that would increase the price of goods such as sanitary towels and diapers.

A proposal to tax bread was withdrawn after public outcry, but protesters are still calling on parliament not to pass the bill.

Kenya’s Human Rights Commission on Tuesday shared a video of officers shooting at protesters and said they would be held accountable.

The commission wrote on X in an address to President William Ruto: “The world is watching your descent into tyranny!

“Your regime’s actions are an attack on democracy. Everyone involved – actively or passively – in the shooting must be held accountable.”

Kenya Law Society president Faith Odhiambo said on Tuesday that 50 Kenyans, including her personal assistant, had been “kidnapped” by people believed to be police officers. She said there were extrajudicial killings, police kidnappings, torture and people being held incommunicado for days.

The missing included those who made their voices heard during the ongoing demonstrations and were taken from their homes, workplaces and public spaces ahead of Tuesday’s protests, civil society groups said.

Police officials did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

Parliament Speaker Moses Wetangula on Tuesday ordered the Inspector General of Police to provide information on the whereabouts of those the opposition says were kidnapped by police.

Ruto on Sunday said he was proud of the youths who had come out to perform their democratic duty and said he would engage the youths in their concerns. Ruto was outside the capital attending an African Union retreat.

Unrest in the country over the controversial tax bill continues, despite some of the proposed increases being scrapped.

Among the scrapped tax increases was a proposed 16 percent VAT on bread, as well as proposed taxes on motor vehicles, vegetable oil and mobile money transfers, the chairman of Kenya’s Finance and National Planning Committee said.

“When we started public participation in the 2024 Finance Bill, we promised that public participation would not be an exercise in futility. We have listened to the views of Kenyans,” Kuria Kimani said in a speech last week.

Changes to the financing bill were driven by the “need to protect Kenyans from higher costs of living,” Kimani said.

But today’s dramatic scenes highlight how many people are far from satisfied with the government’s actions.

The measures have failed to allay fears that the tax hikes will worsen the country’s cost of living crisis.