Kenya's Capital Under Siege: Protesters Storm Parliament

On Tuesday, Kenya's parliament faced an unprecedented attack as thousands of protesters opposed to a new finance bill stormed the building. Lawmakers voted for the bill, which aimed to introduce new taxes amidst rising living costs, and quickly fled through a tunnel. Meanwhile, protesters set parts of the parliament and a nearby office on fire, with police responding with water cannons and tear gas. The chants "We’re coming for every politician" echoed as police fired live ammunition, even targeting those seeking medical help nearby. The Kenya Human Rights Commission captured officers shooting protesters on video.

The office of Nairobi's governor, a member of the ruling party, was also engulfed in flames. Several people were reportedly killed in the violence, reminiscent of similar deaths during last week's protests. Civil society groups reported that dozens of vocal protesters had been abducted by suspected police officers ahead of Tuesday's demonstrations. President William Ruto, who was outside the capital attending an African Union retreat, had previously praised the young protestors for exercising their democratic rights and promised to engage with them on their concerns.

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