At least 10 people dead as police fire on protesters outside Parliament

Police confront protesters outside the Parliament buildings in Nairobi. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

At least 10 people are reported to have died after police opened fire on protesters outside Parliament in Nairobi.

Chaotic scenes were marked by live bullets and tear gas moments after Members of Parliament approved the bill.

Several protesters sustained serious bullet wounds during the violent confrontations. Ambulances were seen picking up casualties at the scene.

“I have seen four bodies of the protesters who were shot dead,” said a witness. “They are lying in a pool of blood outside Parliament.”

Anti-Finance Bill, 2024 protesters in their hundreds on Tuesday afternoon entered inside Parliament hours after police shot several demonstrators outside the premises.

 Moments earlier, MPs had voted to approve the Finance Bill, 2024 that imposes a wave of taxes.

"This is the first time in Kenya that protesters have broken barriers and accessed inside Parliament despite heavy security," noted a parliamentary official.

Previously, police had managed to block protesters from gaining access to Parliament and always cordoned off the protection.

 Opposition leaders had in the past held protests but police succeeded in blocking them from accessing Parliament.

Parliament is a gazetted area, meaning it is one of the most highly protected and guarded institutions after the State House.

The protected status gives security officers more mandate to do all they can to avoid any intrusion into the legislature.

MPs had voted 195 to 106 to pass the Finance Bill, 2024, paving the way for President William Ruto to assent to it into law.

The protesters also burned several vehicles belonging to the police.

"Our crew covering the youth-led protests counted more than 10 people being rushed to hospitals by ambulances, while others remained on the ground, writhing in pain," said a reporter.

“People have been shot, it is very bad,” one protester yelled while fleeing from a thick cloud of tear gas.

Police started shooting after teargas and water cannons failed to disperse a crowd of thousands who had overwhelmed officers. Flames could be seen coming from inside the building.

Sections of the roads near Parliament were also on fire as protesters overwhelmed police to storm the compound.