TRANSCRIPT
Police have opened fire on demonstrators trying to storm Kenya's parliament [[June 25]], with at least 13 protesters killed, dozens more wounded, and sections of the parliament building and Nairobi City Hall set ablaze.
The streets of Nairobi, Mombasa, and several other cities have been filled with protesters voicing their anger against a new finance bill which proposes significant tax increases.
President William Ruto's administration plans to raise fuel prices and export taxes, despite agreeing to remove some levies.
This protester claims the plans will threatens to stifle the economy and raise living costs for already struggling Kenyans.
"We are here as the youth and the people to commune, and reject the finance bill. Our lives are tough. People are struggling. People can't get enough places to stay. People don't have meals to eat. Families, fathers can't put food on their tables. We need change in this country. And this finance bill is not going to bring that change. We don't want to carry debt. We want to change this, we want to change this country. We want you as the government to be accountable. We have started with the president. We want you to be accountable for the finance bill. We want the governors to be accountable for the things that they're telling us. For these promises that they're making, that they are breaking. Because they're breaking families, people are struggling."
Mr Ruto has condemned the escalation in violence, the most direct assault on the government in decades.
"Most regrettably, today's attack on Kenya's constitutional order has resulted in the loss of lives. Also destruction of property and desecration of institutions and emblems of our sovereignty. Today's events marked a critical turning point on how we respond to grave threats to our national security. I assure the nation that the government has mobilised all resources at the nation's disposal to ensure that a situation of this nature will not recur again, at whatever cost."
Journalists saw at least three bodies outside the complex where police had opened fire, and medical workers reported five others killed.
Mr Ruto had earlier expressed his pride in the nation's youth for their protests against the proposed finance bill.
"I am very proud of our young people. They have stepped forward; 'tribeless', they have stepped forward but peaceful, and I want to tell them we are going to engage them. We are going to have a conversation so that together we can build a greater nation."
But this young protester in Nairobi wants the President to resign.
"I don't want him as my president, I even regret why I voted for him. He must go. This new finance bill, you are not amending, we are rejecting. Everything, withdraw it. The money that he uses to travel is belonging to the economy. Ruto you must go, by force. We are not pleasing you, you must go by force."
The International Monetary Fund [[-IM-F]] has insisted on the necessity of the bill, stating that it is crucial for increasing state revenues, thereby reducing the budget deficit and government borrowing.
Financial Analyst Harrison Ikundi says if corruption is done away with, there would be no need to raise taxes.
"What is most important, can we save money by cutting down on corruption because that is the biggest problem we have in Kenya, we waste a lot of money on corruption. That money that is being stolen. If it is put in good use, we will not have to tax people so much or we need to not borrow. If we can save on wastage, we do not need to borrow or tax people."
The protests have been marked by clashes between demonstrators and police, who have used tear gas and live ammunition to disperse crowds.
The Kenya National Commission for Human Rights is calling for investigations into what they describe as excessive force by the police, as is Amnesty Kenya, which is calling for the immediate release of all detained protesters and observers.
Despite the violent clashes and public outcry, the Kenyan government is remaining firm on its stance, aiming to push through the bill.
Parliament has approved it, moving it through to a third reading by legislators.
The next step is for the legislation to be sent to the president for signing.
He can send it back to parliament if he has any objections.
