Kenya: Protesters storm parliament – ​​building catches fire

IIn Kenya, days of protests against tax increases have turned deadly violent. On Tuesday, hundreds of demonstrators stormed parliamentary grounds in the capital, Nairobi, during a debate on government plans, and a fire broke out in the governor’s office building. According to several non-governmental organizations, at least five people were killed. The Kenyan government sent in troops, and many foreign governments have expressed concerns.

After days of largely peaceful protests, the situation in front of the parliament building in Nairobi escalated on Tuesday, with demonstrators throwing stones at police, breaking through barriers and finally entering the parliamentary grounds.

According to reports from multiple non-governmental organizations, including Amnesty International, police used live ammunition against protesters, killing at least five people and injuring dozens. Rights groups have also accused security forces of taking protesters away in vehicles without license plates, especially at night. Police did not respond to AFP’s inquiries.

AFP reporters at the scene reported that several protesters lay lifeless in pools of blood on the ground in front of the parliament building. Cars parked in front of the parliament were also destroyed. A fire broke out briefly in one of the parliament buildings. Television images of the complex showed rooms vandalized and looted, tables overturned, windows broken and smoking furniture strewn across the lawn.

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Images from the television network Citizen TV also showed a fire in the governor’s office building, a few hundred metres from parliament, which police put out with water cannons.

Citing real-time network data, the NetBlocks group said there were “significant” disruptions to Kenya’s internet connectivity during the protests.

Television images showed that in addition to the capital, Nairobi, demonstrators also gathered in the port city of Mombasa and the large city of Kisumu on the shores of Lake Victoria, which is considered a stronghold of Kenya’s opposition.

President speaks of ‘attack on democracy’

The Ministry of Defence said it had decided to deploy the troops, with Defence Minister Aden Barre Douale citing a nationwide “security emergency” to justify it in a statement.

Head of state William Ruto delivered a pointed speech on the protests. “We will respond fully, effectively and swiftly to today’s treasonous activities,” Ruto told reporters, adding that the demonstrations had been “hijacked by dangerous individuals”.

“Today Kenya experienced an attack on democracy and the rule of law,” the president said in a televised address. “Today’s events are a turning point in how we respond to serious threats to our national security,” the president said.

Many countries have expressed concern about the events. In a joint statement, 13 Western countries, including Germany, Britain and the United States, said they were “deeply concerned” and “particularly shocked” by the scenes in front of Kenya’s parliament. Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said he was “deeply concerned” and “deeply saddened” by reports of death and injury.

AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat called on Kenyans on behalf of the African Union to “remain calm and avoid further violence.”

Protests against the government’s planned tax hikes began last week in the capital, Nairobi, and spread to other parts of Kenya. They were initially driven mainly by young people but have since been joined by people of other ages.

Residents of the East African country already face very high costs of living. The government cited the high national debt as justification for the planned tax increases and the need to give the state new room for action.

In mid-June, the government withdrew a large portion of the actual planned tax increases in light of the protests, but the protests have continued.

Planned tax hikes bring protesters to the streets

Residents of the East African country already face very high costs of living. The government cited the high national debt as justification for the planned tax increases and the need to give the state new room for action.

In mid-June, in light of the protests, the government withdrew most of the tax increases it had actually planned, including a 16% increase in VAT on bread, financial services and foreign currency exchange, as well as a new tax on motor vehicles. President William Ruto said in parliament that lawmakers had “listened to the people” and “changed the proposal.”

However, protests under the slogan “Occupy Parliament” continue. Demonstrators call for the complete revocation of the measures and accuse the government of “playing tricks”. Among other things, she plans to offset the reversal of some of the tax increases with other measures, including a 50% increase in existing fuel taxes.

The current Kenyan head of state Ruto took office in 2022 as a representative of the poor. However, many people died in riots in Kenya last year protesting tax increases.

Kenya has one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa, but about a third of the population lives in poverty. The World Bank estimates that full-year growth will fall to around 5% of gross domestic product. Inflation was 5.1% in May.