Bodies of protesters were seen lying on the ground as the Kenyan police fired live rounds at demonstrators in Nairobi on Tuesday.
The Finance Bill 2024 has sparked nationwide protests mainly by the Gen z.
The parliament ceremonial mace was also removed from Kenya’s parliament as protesters stormed the assembly during anti-tax protests which turned violent.
The mace, as described on the Kenyan governmental website, “is a highly ornamented staff of metal, wood or other materials, carried by a Mace-bearer or placed before a sovereign or other high officials; in civic ceremonies or before a revered gathering to symbolize authority.”
According to reports Mps and Kenyan lawmakers who were at the parliament building escaped through an underground channel.
Lawmakers were evacuated as police went up against protesters, escaping to the nearby government building of Bunge Towers.
Earlier on Tuesday, 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.
Kenya is in the grip of nationwide protests against proposed tax hikes, culminating in a planned “total shutdown” of the country.
“I’m here because look at what’s happening. Young Kenyans are demonstrating for their rights. They are demonstrating with flags and banners,” Auma Obama said.
