Kenya protesters breach parliament barricade after National Assembly passes Finance Bill
Jun 25, 2024
Hundreds of protesters broke through barriers erected by the police outside parliament in the capital Nairobi, with police firing live rounds and leaving "many wounded", according to Amnesty International Kenya.
Protesters are enveloped by a cloud of tear gas fired by Kenyan security forces during a demonstration in Nairobi on June 25, 2024. © Simon Maina, AFP
Vision Reporter
Journalist @New Vision
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NAIROBI -- Kenyan protesters breached parliament barricades on Tuesday and entered the complex where lawmakers were debating contentious tax hike proposals that have sparked widespread anger, AFP journalists saw, as police fired live bullets.
Hundreds of protesters broke through barriers erected by the police outside parliament in the capital Nairobi, with police firing live rounds and leaving "many wounded", according to Amnesty International Kenya.
Police have blocked all major roads leading to the Nairobi Central Business District.
No vehicle was allowed in and out of the Nairobi CBD by the time of going to press. Along Waiyaki Way, for instance, the road was closed at the Uthiru area and Uthiru cooperation.
The chaos outside parliament came a few minutes after Kenya’s National Assembly adopted the 2024 Finance Bill with amendments
The Parliament passed the bill with 195 MPs voting YES, 106 voting NO, three votes spoilt and there was no objection.
The Bill now awaits President William Ruto's assent into law.
The House has also amended Clause 48 "excluding motorcycle tyres, tuk-tuk tyres and bicycle tyres" from attracting Eco-Levy.
The House also approved that Clause 63 which sought to grant exemptions to the Kenya Revenue Authority from the provisions of the Data Protection Act, be dropped.