Protesters fatally shot, properties vandalized as Kenyans Protest against Finance Bill 2024
By Antynet Ford
Several protesters were on Tuesday fatally shot and several others were injured outside the national assembly during the ‘total shutdown’ protest by Kenyans over increased taxes in Finance Bill 2024.
The protest took an ugly turn after the protesters attempted to access parliament buildings as they battled the police.
Nairobi region police commander Adamson Bungei said at least four of the injured were picked up by ambulance and rushed to the hospital.
During the riot, a police lorry outside the parliament buildings minutes after they had burnt another police vehicle at the General Post Office along Kenyatta Avenue.
Police blocked all major roads leading to the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) with no vehicles being allowed in or out of the city center.
The protesters lit tyres on the closed roads blocking them with stones.
At around 3 pm, hundreds of the protesters gained entry to the parliament after their fellows were shot outside the precincts.
MPs were forced to take cover as in a turn of events opposition MPs joined the protesters in the streets after the finance bill was passed.
196 MPS voted to pass the bill while 105 voted against it with three spoilt votes.
The bill has now passed through parliament and waiting on presidential assent to become law.
This is the first time protesters have managed to gain access to the assembly despite heavy security.
Earlier in the day, the officers had managed to cordon off the parliament blocking them from gaining access.
In various cities and towns in the country, a contingent of police officers were deployed to guard various government installations including state houses.
A section of the protesters had hinted at marching to the statehouse.
Red-beret Recce squad General Service Unit officers with armorer tankers were parked outside gate A of the Nairobi Statehouse.
Major cities and towns that experienced the demos include: Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, Kisumu, Eldoret, Nyeri, Kisii, Kericho among others.
