Kenya: Military and Police Deployed in Nairobi After Protesters Storm Parliament Building

On Wednesday, a combined force of soldiers and police was deployed in the streets of Nairobi, Kenya’s capital city, in the aftermath of a chaotic protest that saw demonstrators breach the nation’s parliament building. The protests, which erupted on Tuesday, were a response to the government’s recent introduction of tax hikes, and resulted in a tense standoff between law enforcement and demonstrators.

At least six people lost their lives, and over 100 others were hurt as the demonstrations turned deadly. The chaos unfolded as protesters set fire to a portion of the parliament building, prompting police to respond with gunfire to disperse the crowd and restore order.

In a televised address to the nation on Tuesday evening, Kenyan President William Ruto delivered a strong rebuke of the protesters’ actions, characterizing them as treasonous and a significant threat to national security. With a sense of urgency and gravity, President Ruto addressed the citizens of Kenya, emphasizing the need for stability and order in the face of what he described as a dangerous and unlawful challenge to the country’s authority.

“It is not in order or even conceivable that criminals pretending to be peaceful protesters can reign terror against the people, their elected representatives and the institutions established under our constitution and expect to go scot-free, Ruto said.

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All the lawmakers managed to get out of the parliament building safely. The fire was subsequently extinguished by firefighters.

Lawmakers successfully passed the controversial finance bill, which includes tax increases, with a majority vote of 195 to 106. The bill now awaits signature from President William Ruto to become law.

Meanwhile, protests against the finance bill also erupted in other major cities across the country, including Mombasa, Kisumu, and Naivasha, as citizens expressed their discontent with the government’s fiscal policies.

Stéphane Dujarric, the Spokesperson for United Nations Secretary General António Guterres stated on Tuesday that the U.N. chief was “deeply concerned over the violence” and “saddened by the deaths and Injuries in the Kenyan protests. The secretary-general is calling for the security forces to “exercise restraint” and for “the demonstrators to protest peacefully, Dujarric said.

Although the protests have generally been peaceful, reports from domestic and international human rights organizations indicate that two individuals lost their lives during demonstrations last week. Furthermore, these groups have accused the police of unlawfully detaining protesters, raising concerns about potential human rights violations. The allegations of police misconduct and the tragic loss of life have added a somber tone to the ongoing protests, emphasizing the need for a peaceful and respectful resolution to the situation.