Photographs and news agency reports showed clashes in the streets of the Kenyan capital Nairobi on Tuesday as the African state passed a controversial finance bill aimed at raising national taxes.
Earlier today, Kenya’s parliament announced that it had passed the controversial 2024 Finance Bill — which plans to increase a series of levies on average consumers — at second reading, with 195 votes in favor, 106 against, no abstentions and three negative votes. votes.
The tax law was amended last week to exclude an initially proposed 16% value-added tax on bread, sugar transport, financial services, foreign exchange, as well as a tax on motor vehicles by 2.5%.
The bill sparked nationwide protests in Kenya, which is grappling with a cost-of-living crisis punctuated by inflation that reached 5.1% in May. The Kenya Human Rights Commission on Tuesday shared a video of police shooting at protesters, calling for accountability.
At least 50 people were shot and injured during the latest protests, Reuters reported, citing a local emergency worker outside parliament. The news agency further reported that sections of the Parliament building were set on fire during the assault on the compound.
CNBC could not independently confirm the events and contacted Kenyan police and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding Tuesday’s incident.
Blood has already been spilled in similar protests, after two people were killed in separate demonstrations last week, the Associated Press reported.
Protesters chant anti-government slogans while some of them climb onto a Kenyan police water cannon truck.
Protesters chant anti-government slogans as some of them climb onto a Kenyan police water cannon truck.
Luis Tato | Afp | Getty Images
A protester throws a tear gas grenade during a demonstration.
A protester throws a tear gas grenade while demonstrating during the national strike
Luis Tato | Afp | Getty Images
Protesters run for cover as Kenyan police water cannon truck throws water
Protesters run for cover as a Kenyan police water cannon truck throws water at them as they demonstrated during a nationwide strike to protest tax hikes and the draft Finance Bill 2024 in downtown Nairobi on June 25, 2024.
Luis Tato | Afp | Getty Images
A protester holds up a sign during the demonstration against a government tax bill
A protester holds up a sign during a demonstration against the government’s tax bill in Nairobi’s central business district.
Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Police monitor protesters against tax bill
Police monitor protesters against government’s tax bill
Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images
People use their mobile phones to take photos of protesters in the Naoribi CBD
People use their mobile phones to take photos of protesters in the Naoribi CBD.
Simon Maïna | Afp | Getty Images
Anti-government protesters called for economic shutdown
Anti-government protesters have called for a shutdown of the economy over income-raising measures that they say are pushing more of the country’s 54 million people into poverty.
Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Protesters react after being pushed by Kenyan police officers while demonstrating
Protesters react after being pushed by Kenyan police officers while demonstrating.
Luis Tato | Afp | Getty Images
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