See Kenya’s Protests in Nairobi

Kenya exploded in violence on Tuesday as demonstrators clashed with police officers in the streets and stormed the national Parliament building after lawmakers passed a bill to increase taxes.

Columns of thick smoke poured out of the Parliament compound. Protesters furious about tax hikes included in the finance bill hurled rocks and blocked roads.

The protests paralyzed Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, and images of demonstrators swarming the Parliament and getting inside the gated compound shocked the nation. More than 30 protesters were hurt and at least five were killed, according to several civic groups.

The protests have spread across the country to Nakuru, Mombasa, Eldoret and other urban areas. Kenya is deep in debt and the government says it needs to raise taxes. But many Kenyans say they can’t afford the proposed increases on imported staples like eggs, onions and cooking oil.