Thank you for joining us today. We're closing this live page now but here's a summary on the key events of the day.
- Police and protesters clashed in demonstrations over a controversial new finance bill that introduces unpopular tax proposals
- This left at least five people dead according to a paramedic on the ground, while about 40 people are reportedly being treated in hospital
- BBC reporters saw bodies on the street and witnessed police throwing tear gas at protesters
- During the protests, part of the Kenyan parliament was set alight after protesters breached the complex
- Hundreds of MPs were unable to leave the building and reportedly took cover in the basement
- A short while ago, Kenyan president William Ruto blamed the clashes on "criminals" who he says "hijacked" the protests. He vowed a "full response" to the violence
A live BBC report from Nairob was interrupted by a man wielding a rifle after the parliament was stormed in protest against a tax bill.
There have been reports of people being wounded as police fired rounds to disperse the crowds.
Once safe, the BBC's Mercy Juma returned to explaining what has led to the violence.
May of the protesters are young people, 23-year-old protester Maureen Awuor tells the BBC.
"Our voice must be heard... we are the generation that is coming up, so they need to hear us."
ReutersShortly before Ruto's address, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for restraint in Kenya by police and security forces and urged protesters to be peaceful, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday.
"It is very important that the rights of people to demonstrate peacefully be upheld," Mr Dujarric said.
ReutersThe former president of Kenya has issued a statement calling for calm and restraint from the country's leaders.
"I want to remind all leaders that they were elected by the people," Uhuru Kenyatta said in a letter to Kenyans.
"Listening to the people is not a choice but a mandate enshrined in the principles of our constitution, and in the very basis and philosophy of democracy."
He urged the leadership to "embrace dialogue and speak to the people and not at the people".
"Leaders must know that power and authority they have is donated to them by the people".
Kenyan President William Ruto has termed today’s protests as "treasonous events".
In a televised address from State House, Ruto said the demonstrations had been "hijacked" and he was putting "on notice the planners, financiers, orchestrators, abetters of violence and anarchy".
He added that the military had been deployed across the country “in response to the security emergency caused by the ongoing violent protests".
“This marks a critical turning point in how we respond to such threats on national security," he said.
“Today’s attack resulted in the loss of lives, destruction of property and a lack of respect for the institutions, the head of state said.
It is still not clear how many people have died but the Kenya Medical Association counted five people.
Many of those injured are receiving treatment at the Kenyatta National Hospital.
Ruto ends by saying the government will treat every threat to national security as an "existential threat to our republic", and actors in such threats will be viewed as "treasonous".
Ruto thanks young people - who have been at the forefront of the tax hike protests - for raising a "pertinent" conversation but says this must "be conducted in a manner that respects the rule of law and respect for institutions".
"It is very painful for Kenya that a conversation this crucial was hijacked by dangerous people," he continues.
"It is not in order that criminals pretending to be peaceful protestors can raise terror against the people - and expect to go scot free."
President Ruto begins by addressing the anti-tax protests, which he describes as being "infiltrated and hijacked by organised criminals".
He says all available resources have been deployed against those who "undermine the security of the country".
Kenyan president William Ruto is speaking now. Stay with us as we bring you the latest updates from him.
Kenya's president William Ruto will speak at a press briefing shortly, addressing the tax hike protests that have taken place today.
We will bring you the latest on this when it starts.
The military has been deployed to support the police in the ongoing "violent protests", we've just learned.
In a statement, Aden Bare Duale, chairperson for the defence council said the protests are "resulting in destruction and breaching of critical infrastructure".
ReutersThe choices facing Kenya's President William Ruto are now far from easy.
Elected in 2022 pledging to cut corruption, shore up the country's faltering economy and help the poor, the embattled Mr Ruto now faces an unprecedented rebellion against his finance bill - legislation he says is an essential part of his plan to build the nation.
It might be easier to know which way to turn if the opposition Mr Ruto faced was confined within parliament.
An astute political player, deputy president for almost a decade before being elected to the top spot, Mr Ruto has years of experience wrangling politics to get things done.
Now though, the forces massed against him are something truly beyond his control.
Click here to read more on this.
We were brining you news earlier that parliament had been stormed by protesters and some buildings had been set alight.
Here are some photos that have come through of the scenes then:
EPA
EPA
EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock
EPA-EFE/REX/ShutterstockThere's been more diplomatic reaction to the protests coming through.
A White House National Security Council spokesperson said the US is "closely monitoring the situation in Nairobi, where police opened fire on demonstrators trying to storm the Kenyan parliament, and is urging calm"
Earlier a group of ambassadors had said they were "especially shocked by the scenes witnessed outside the Kenyan Parliament".
AFPKenya's influential Catholic bishops are urging the government to give time to aggrieved citizens and address the "pain caused by the escalating cost of living" in the country.
"We plead with the president to listen to the voices of so many Kenyans. The country is bleeding," the bishops say in a statement.
"Young people are right to express their desperation."
They condemned the use of excessive force by police and urged the young people to avoid destroying property.
The demonstrations across Kenya were sparked by a controversial finance bill that was passed on Tuesday that raises a number of different taxes.
The government had earlier withdrawn a number of the most controversial measures - such as a tax on bread and cooking oil, but this did not assuage people's anger.
A group of ambassadors and high commissioners for countries including Britain, Canada, Denmark, Germany, the US and the Netherlands have issued a statement expressing "concern" at the violence ensuing at the protests.
"We are especially shocked by the scenes witnessed outside the Kenyan Parliament," the British High Commission posted on Facebook.
"We regret the tragic loss of life and injuries sustained including the use of live fire," they said. The group says it is also "deeply concerned" by "allegations of abductions of protesters", and is calling for "restraint on all sides".
"All actors have the responsibility to respect, uphold, promote and uphold the rule of law, particularly by ensuring a proportionate security response".
Other signatories include the embassy of Finland, Estonia, Norway, Sweden, Romania and Belgium.
AFP
AFPPolice 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.
I'm outside the emergency unit at Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi. Ambulances are coming in with casualties – about four in the last 30 mins.
Motorbikes are bringing people in too. Some people have already been bandaged up.
Most of the injured are men. They look very young and are definitely protesters.
Hospital staff have set up a temporary structure outside the unit to receive more casualties.
It feels quite safe here. There are no police checks at the entrance to the hospital or police on the hospital grounds.
Kenya Red CorssKenya Red Cross says its vehicles have been attacked and their staff and volunteers injured while transporting wounded people away from the protests. "We can't provide life-saving interventions without access and safety for our staff and volunteers.
"It is crucial that we are granted access to continue our humanitarian efforts without hindrance," the charity posted on X.
It did not say who had attacked its vehicles or injured its staff and volunteers.
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2024-06-25 19:15:22Z
CBMiKmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy9saXZlL2M3MjIycjdtZ3oydNIBAA
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