Kenya tax protests: five people reportedly killed in capital Nairobi

At least five protesters have been shot dead by police in Kenya and a section of Parliament has gone up in flames as protests against new tax proposals intensify.

An angry crowd broke through police lines to storm Parliament in the capital Nairobi before setting fire to parts of it.

In a speech on Tuesday evening, President William Ruto said all means would be deployed to “thwart any attempt by dangerous criminals to undermine the security and stability of our country.”

He deployed the army to quell the protests.

Demonstrations against an unpopular finance bill, which provides for several tax increases, have continued for several days. But they intensified on Tuesday when deputies adopted an amended bill.

Protesters broke into Parliament, vandalizing the interior and setting fire to parts of the complex. The mace, symbol of Parliament's authority, has been stolen.

Police opened fire with live ammunition, killing at least five people, according to the Kenya Medical Association. A BBC journalist at the scene reported seeing bodies lying in pools of blood in the street.

“There are things that are difficult to understand, like how can we impose a 16% tax on bread? How can we tax sanitary napkins?” » Derrick Mwathu, 24, told the BBC, referring to some of the proposals contained in the original bill.

President Ruto has pledged a strong response to what he called “violence and anarchy”.

“It is neither acceptable nor even conceivable that criminals posing as peaceful protesters can unleash a reign of terror against the people, their elected representatives and the institutions established by our constitution and hope to escape unscathed,” added Mr Ruto.

Hundreds of people were reportedly injured, including by rubber bullets and tear gas. At a Nairobi cathedral, where a medical camp had been set up to treat injured protesters, a BBC journalist saw doctors being forced out of the building by soldiers.

Another temporary unit has been set up outside the emergency unit of Kenyatta National Hospital.

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta called for dialogue, saying Kenyan leaders should “know that power and authority are given to them by the people.”

Although the government backed away from some proposals in the original bill, protesters demanded its entire withdrawal.

Maureen Awuor, 23, said: “Our voice needs to be heard… We are the generation coming up, so they need to hear us. »

The protests made headlines in Africa and other parts of the world.

Two of Africa's leading protest figures, Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine and South African radical politician Julius Malema, have both expressed support for the protesters.

Western countries have expressed concern about the violence and called for calm.