By Ardedapo Adesanya
Violence has erupted in Nairobi, the capital of the East African country of Kenya as citizens opposed the 2024 Finance Bill that was passed on Tuesday.
Thousands of Kenyans breached barricades to enter the country’s parliamentary complex where a fire erupted.
A total of 195 Members of Parliament voted in favour of the bill, 104 voted against, and there were 3 void votes.
The Finance Bill will now be sent to President William Ruto for approval.
Mr Ruto’s government maintains that the implementation of additional taxes will contribute to the repayment of debt and enhance economic stability, and critics have called on the government to cut its cost of governance.
The bill was criticised for introducing a raft of new tax proposals on basic commodities, the second in two years, despite an increase in the country’s cost of living
The mainly Gen-Z-led rallies, which began last week, have caught the government off guard, with President Ruto saying over the weekend he was ready to talk to the protesters.
However, tensions sharply escalated on Tuesday afternoon, as crowds began to throw stones at police and push back against barricades, making their way towards the parliament complex, which was sealed off by police in full riot gear.
Police fired at crowds massing outside the parliament building, where lawmakers had been debating a contentious bill featuring tax hike proposals.
“Police have shot four protesters, as witnessed by KHRC, killing one,” the Kenya Human Rights Commission said in a statement on X.
Business Post gathered that over five people have been killed by the police, with news feeds from international media showing gunshots and tear gas being fired.
Business Post Contributor 
Dipo Olowookere