Across Kenya, young people are protesting the government’s new tax hikes today. In the capital, hundreds of protesters have entered the parliament building, which was partly on fire. Windows were broken and doors kicked open. It is burning inside the parliament building, where the politicians have just adopted a new tax package. Photo: Monicah Mwangi / Reuters Inside, the politicians had approved a legislative package with new taxes. Ten protesters are also said to be dead, according to TV channel KTN News. 45 wounded people are being treated at the Kenyatta National Hospital, the hospital itself reports on X. Several bodies have been lying outside the National Assembly, according to eyewitnesses the news agency Reuters has spoken to. An ambulance worker reports 10 dead. Military forces are on their way to the capital to assist the police, reports Al Jazeera. The government plans to collect $2.7 billion in additional taxes to reduce the budget deficit. The protesters say the tax hikes will hurt the economy and increase the cost of living for Kenyans who are already struggling to make ends meet. The police fired sharply at the protesters after they broke the barricades and stormed the parliament building. There are several tens of thousands of young people in the streets of the capital, but vandalism has also been reported elsewhere in the country. Some have thrown stones at the police and earlier today it was reported that the police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse the crowd. The police have used weapons against the demonstrators. Photo: Monicah Mwangi / Reuters – This is modern colonialism In the first draft of the tax law, the government wanted to introduce a 16 per cent tax on bread sales and a 25 per cent tax on cooking oil, which they reversed after massive protests. – This is modern colonialism. We are the people’s power, you must listen to us. Long live, says Stella Kioko to news. – They must listen to us, we are against the tax law, say young protesters Stella Kioko and Miles to news. They say that the police attacked the peaceful demonstrators for no reason. She and her friends have turned up to protest against President William Ruto’s new taxes, which they think are completely unreasonable. The taxes will increase the prices of imported sanitary products such as pads and nappies, but also electrical goods such as mobile phones and TVs. Private hospitals are taxed and the government has been accused of taxing cancer patients. – What do you think of the way the police have met the protesters? – It is completely wrong. We came here peacefully. Just check our pockets, we have nothing dangerous, we have no stones. We are just here to make sure our voices are heard, and our voices say no to the tax law, says Stella. Obama’s half-sister Auma Obama was sprayed with tear gas while being interviewed by CNN. – We have been showered with tear gas while we are only holding flags and posters, she says as she struggles with discomfort in her eyes. Many thousands of young protesters have taken to the streets of Kenya in recent days. The police have responded with rubber bullets, tear gas and now live fire. Photo: LUIS TATO / AFP / Reuters Cruelty and discontent Opponents of the tax increases have called for general strikes and demonstrations across the country, which last week saw thousands of people gather in the streets. Kenya is a republic in East Africa and has 54 million inhabitants. The country struggles with corruption, poverty and ethnic contradictions. Both Swahili and English are official languages. The cost of living is high, with expensive groceries and fuel. In addition, the currency has a low value, which means that it is an expensive time. When the politicians introduce expensive taxes on top of this, it makes life difficult for many Kenyans. Published 25.06.2024, at 14.18 Updated 25.06.2024, at 16.26
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Parliament on fire and several protesters killed in Kenya – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
