Protests against tax increases Protesters storm parliament in Kenya - several dead

During protests against a new tax law, demonstrators in the Kenyan city of Nairobi stormed the parliament building on Tuesday. Despite the deaths and injuries, young Kenyans want to continue protesting. The government is taking countermeasures.

Following an escalation of violence on Tuesday, further protests and demonstrations are expected in Kenya this Wednesday. The background to the protests is a new tax law that introduces further tax burdens and increases existing taxes.

After initially peaceful protests, violence is now increasing on both sides. On Tuesday, hundreds of demonstrators stormed the parliament in Nairobi. They set fire to part of the building. The police fired live ammunition at protesters. On Tuesday evening, the military was called in to reinforce the police.

Human rights organization Amnesty International, which had sent observer teams to demonstrations, reported five protesters dead and at least 13 who had suffered gunshot wounds. Official figures on the total number of dead and injured were still not available late in the evening.

Police apparently shoot demonstrators

Two people had already lost their lives during the protests last week. An alliance of human rights groups criticized the unnecessary harshness of the police operation.

In a televised address on Tuesday evening, Kenya's President William Ruto blamed "organized criminals" for the storming of parliament following peaceful protests. The protests had been infiltrated and subverted, Ruto said. "Today's events are a turning point in how we respond to serious threats to our national security," Ruto emphasized. The government had mobilized all the resources at its disposal to ensure that the incidents were not repeated.

Supporters of the protests rejected reports of criminal infiltration in numerous posts on social media.

Germans living in Kenya called for increased caution

Representatives of the Kenya Catholic Bishops' Conference appealed to Ruto not to sign the tax bill once it has been passed by parliament. Greater public participation in the law is necessary, the bishops said.

The German Foreign Office called on German visitors and Germans living in the East African country to exercise increased caution via its crisis preparedness list. Further violent protests must be expected in the coming days, it said in an email sent on Tuesday evening.

"Avoid non-essential travel in cities where violent protests are taking place. Stay in a safe place," the recommendation said. People should also stay away from government buildings outside the capital Nairobi. Kenya is a popular vacation destination for beach and safari tourists.