The Building of the Nairobi Governor, an Economic Hub at the Turn of a People’s Passion: Fire and Protests against New Taxes

The office of the Nairobi governor, a member of the ruling party, was also briefly on fire Tuesday, with smoke pouring from its white facade. The office is in close proximity to the parliament. Police water cannons were used to extinguish the fire.

Protesters had demanded that legislators vote against the bill imposing new taxes on a country, East Africa’s economic hub, where frustrations over the high cost of living have simmered for years. The youth took to the streets to object to the pain of reforms because they voted for William when he was in power.

But lawmakers voted to pass the bill, then fled through a tunnel as protesters, many of them youth, outmaneuvered police to enter parliament. Legislators who voted against the bill were allowed to walk out of the building. The fire was later put out.

Thousands of protesters rally in support of the Kenyan Finance and Economic Development Laws, or the need for human rights: The case of Kenya

Kenya’s government had no immediate comment, and internet service in the country noticeably slowed. There is an African Union retreat. He has two weeks to act after he signs the finance bill.

Police also fired live ammunition and threw tear gas canisters at protesters who sought treatment at a medical tent set up at a church near the parliament complex. Elsewhere, Kenyatta National Hospital said it had received 45 “victims,” though it was not immediately clear if any were dead.

The human rights bodies announced Tuesday a rise in the death toll from the protests. The Kenya Human Rights Commission issued a statement condemning the response by police, who have been accused of using heavy-handed tactics during these protests, including live rounds on crowds, beatings and even abductions.

On Sunday, Ruto tried to calm the rising public tensions over the finance bill, saying he was proud of the young Kenyans who had come out to exercise their democratic duty. He said he would listen to their concerns.

Last week, young people said they were united to keep the government in check as food and fuel prices have gone up. In Nairobi, a regional hub for expatriates and home to a major United Nations complex, the inequality among Kenyans has sharpened along with long-held frustrations over state corruption.

The finance bill has caused a united portion of the country, with some explicitly rejecting the tribal divisions that had torn us apart in the past. Some who had passionately supported Ruto felt betrayed.

A witness said that protesters tried to storm the State House. There were clashes in the western lakeside city of Kisumu. The governor of Mombasa joined protesters outside of his office and expressed his support.

One media outlet said that “we have received threats from the authorities to shut us down” while coverage continued.

A national gathering of Catholic bishops urged police not to attack protesters and pleaded with the government to listen to citizens’ pain over the “unwarranted” taxes, saying “the country is bleeding … Families are in great need.

The Kenya Law Society President Faith Odhiambo: The parliamentary crisis for a man who hasn’t done anything to improve his life

The Kenya Law Society President Faith Odhiambo said earlier Tuesday that 50 Kenyans, including her personal assistant, had been “abducted” by people believed to be police officers.

Some of the people who were vocal in the demonstrations were taken from their homes, offices and public places ahead of Tuesday’s protests.

The police officials did not return calls. Parliament Speaker Moses Wetangula had directed the inspector general of police to provide information on the whereabouts of those reportedly abducted.

The unrest in other countries and the police response has created some awkward scenes at a time when a United Nations-backed force is in Haiti to restore peace.

The bill will be pulled after the people of Kenya say that they don’t want anything to do with it, according to the deputy president.

He acknowledged the country has had a lot of unhappiness over this week’s vote in the parliament, and he regretted the loss of life and destruction of property during the protests.

The president said his government would instead widen austerity measures, including cuts in hospitality and travel expenses for his office. He has sent the bill back to parliament for amendments.

But protesters have vowed to march on Thursday across the country to call for the resignation of the president and all members of parliament who voted for the bill this week.

Protests are the biggest challenge yet for the man who was elected two years ago, and many people feel that he hasn’t done enough to improve their lives.

It is a serious blow for the man who has styled himself as a strong ally of the West while domestically facing serious questions over his handling of the protests.

Protest of the “Gen Z” bill 2024: Taxes Make Life Harder, Faster, More Efficient – A View from the Protesters

Most of the protesters are young people, college students calling themselves the “Gen Z,” who galvanized much of the opposition to finance bill 2024 on social media.

But the protesters said that the taxes would make life much harder, raising the cost of such things as cooking oil, sanitary pads and diapers, as well as fuel taxes that would make transportation and production more expensive.