Kenya starts clearing debris after protests

WORLD  26 June 2024 - 15:03

Kenyans woke up to the acrid smell of tear gas still lingering in the capital on June 26.

This occurred a day after protesters stormed parliament amid violent demonstrations over a controversial tax plan during which at least six people have been killed, Caliber.Az reports citing the foreign media.

As the day began, there were no reports of violence. Police and soldiers patrolled the streets as city workers began cleaning up debris. Parliament, the city hall and the supreme court were cordoned off with tape reading “Crime Scene Do Not Enter.”

The military was deployed overnight to support police on as President William Ruto called the events treasonous and vowed to quash the unrest “at whatever cost.”

Kenya has been rocked by massive protests for over a week in opposition to a proposed finance bill that would raise taxes as frustrations over the cost of living are simmering. Many young people who helped vote Ruto into power with cheers for his promises of economic relief have taken to the streets to object to the pain of reforms.

Thousands of protesters stormed Kenya’s parliament on June 25, burning parts of the building while legislators fled. Police responded with gunfire and several protesters were killed. The city mortuary told The Associated Press that it received six bodies from police on Tuesday.

Authorities said police fired over 700 blanks to disperse protesters in the suburb of Githurai, east of the capital Nairobi. Videos of gunfire piercing the night air were shared online.

More than 100 people were injured in June 25 protests, according to civil society groups. It is still unclear how many people were arrested.

Caliber.Az