Police shoot demonstrators storming Kenya parliament

At least 10 killed and dozens injured in deadly tax bill protest

- ALEXANDER BUTLER

Police opened fire on demonstrators trying to storm Kenya's parliament yesterday, leaving at least 10 people dead and dozens more injured.

Protesters overwhelmed police and chased them away in an attempt to storm the parliament compound. Video from inside the building showed tables and chairs overturned and smashed, while footage from outside showed sections of the parliament building on fire, tear gas smoke and dozens of armed police.

A paramedic, Vivian Achista, told Reuters that at least 10 people had died. Another paramedic, Richard Ngumo, said more than 50 people had been wounded by gunfire. He was lifting two injured protesters into an ambulance outside parliament. Protesters could be heard shouting “We’re coming for every politician” and some lawmakers were forced to flee parliament through a tunnel.

“We want to shut down parliament and every MP should go down and resign,” said protester Davis Tafari, who was trying to enter parliament. “We will have a new government.” The protests started a week ago. Last Thursday, one person was killed and at least 200 people injured in demonstrations across the country, according to human rights groups and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa), a police watchdog.

The bill would introduce new taxes, including an eco-levy raising the price of goods like period products and nappies. A proposal to tax bread was removed after public outcry – with many Kenyans frustrated over the rising cost of living.