At least five shot dead, 31 injured in Tuesday Kenyan Anti tax protests – reports

Kenya: Police in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, have shot dead at least five people during huge protests against planned tax increases, according to the Kenya Medical Association.

A journalist form the Reuters news agency also reported counting the bodies of at least five protesters outside parliament.

Earlier, the crowds broke through police cordons and entered parliament, setting part of the complex alight. Fire also broke out in Nairobi City Hall.

About 40 people are being treated in hospital.

Kenyans are protesting over a new finance bill that introduces unpopular tax proposals that have drawn a lot of anger across the nation.

The controversial bill, which has provisions that are seen as imposing extra burdens on ordinary citizens and businesses, has sparked a huge outcry from a public already weighed down by the high cost of living.

Police are accused of firing live rounds at protestors on Tuesday after part of the parliament building was set alight.

The government has dropped some of the contentious proposals, but it has done little to assuage public anger.

Many now want the entire bill scrapped.

Source:BBC