Violence erupted in Kenya on Tuesday, as protesters clashed with police in the streets and stormed the nation’s parliament after lawmakers passed a bill to raise taxes.
Thick smoke billowed from the parliament complex. Protesters furious over the budget tax hike threw stones and blocked roads.
Protests have paralyzed Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, and images of protesters storming parliament and entering the complex have shocked the nation. According to several civic groups, more than 30 protesters were injured and at least five killed.
Protests have spread across the country, in Nakuru, Mombasa, Eldoret and other urban areas. Kenya is deeply in debt and the government says it needs to raise taxes. But many Kenyans say they cannot afford the proposed increases on imported basic products, such as eggs, onions and cooking oil.