Five lives lost after thousands of anti-tax hike protesters stormed Kenya’s parliament
Anti-Tax Hike Protesters Stormed Kenya’s Parliament, Lives Lost. Five protesters were shot dead and dozens wounded in increasing anti-tax hike protests despite the assurance by the government that the right to assembly would be protected and eased.
The Tuesday protest quickly resulted in dozens of casualties after police clashed with protesters who stormed the parliament compound in Nairobi.
Although the government had initially assured Kenyans that their right to assembly would be protected, the military was later deployed to assist police, who earlier fired tear gas, water cannon, rubber bullets and — according to a rights group — live ammunition against protesters.
Several nations including Canada, Germany, Britain, and America has expressed dismay over the brutal scenes witnessed outside the Kenyan Parliament”.
Anti-Tax Hike Protesters Stormed Kenya’s Parliament, Lives Lost: The incident
On Tuesday, 25th of June, 2024, a part of Kenya’s parliament building was set on fire as thousands of protesters against a new finance bill stormed the building and legislators fled, in what can be described as the most direct assault on the government in decades.
There had been demands that legislators vote against the controversial bill that aims to impose new taxes on a country that has been enduring a high cost of living for years.
The legislators, on the other hand, decided to vote to pass the bill, resulting in protesters circumventing the police to enter the building.
The protests which had been mostly peaceful turned chaotic when crowds began throwing stones at the police before pushing past barricades and eventually entering the grounds of Kenya’s parliament.
As protesters gained entrance, many were livestreaming the action as they sang and beat drums.
Lawmakers escaped through a tunnel, but protesters allowed legislators who voted against the bill to exit the surrounded building.
Also part of the damage was the office of the Nairobi governor, a member of the ruling party, which is located near parliament.
Police water cannons were being used to douse the fire. Protesters could be heard yelling, “We’re coming for every politician.”
Things got even more out of hand when police officers fired live ammunition and threw tear-gas canisters at protesters who sought treatment at a medical tent assembled at a church close to the parliament complex.
The Kenya Human Rights Commission posted a visual recording of officers shooting at protesters and vowed to bring them to account.
Rights watchdogs have also accused the government of kidnapping protesters.
According to the Kenya Human Rights Commission, the abductions had largely happened at night and were carried out by police officers in civilian clothes and unmarked cars.
There have been demands for the unconditional release of all abductees but Police are yet to make any comment.
DISCLAIMER
The information contained herein is general and is not intended, and should not be taken, as legal, accounting or tax advice provided by Taxmobile.Online Inc to the reader. This information remains strictly the opinion of Taxmobile.Online Inc.
The reader also is cautioned that this material may not apply to, or suitable for, the reader’s specific circumstances or needs, and may require consideration of other tax factors if any action is to be contemplated. The reader should contact his or her Tax Advisers before taking any action based on this information.
All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, retransmitted or otherwise redistributed in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including by photocopying, facsimile transmission, recording, rekeying, or using any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from Taxmobile.Online Inc.