Kenyan President, William Ruto vowed a firm response to restore normalcy, dubbing Tuesday’s violent chaos in Parliament as “treasonous.”
Addressing from State House after parliament was set alight, the president asserted that the chaos was orchestrated and funded by unnamed individuals aiming to destabilize the country.
“We shall provide a full and expeditious response to the treasonous events,” the president stated, assuring the nation of the government’s determination to secure the country. He also issued a stern warning: “I hereby put on notice the financiers of violence and anarchy.”
Ruto said the events on Tuesday were a grave threat to “national security” and that the conversation around the bill had been “hijacked by dangerous people.”
“It is not in order, or even conceivable, that criminals pretending to be peaceful protesters can reign terror against the people, their elected representatives, and the institutions established under our Constitution and expect to go scot-free,” the president said, adding that democratic expression and crime must be isolated from one another.
Kenya’s Defense Ministry said the military has been deployed to support the country’s police services as human rights and civil society groups criticize the heavy-handed response by the police on Tuesday.
The chaotic scenes unfolded as police struggled to disperse rioters who stormed Parliament following the passage of the controversial Finance Bill, which seeks to raise taxes.
The confrontations were marked by live bullets and tear gas moments after Members of Parliament approved the bill. Several protesters sustained serious bullet wounds during the clashes.
On Tuesday night, Defense Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale issued a Gazette Notice authorizing the deployment of the military, as police appeared overwhelmed in many parts of the country, particularly in Nairobi. “The Kenya Defense Forces is deployed on June 25, 2024, in support of the National Police Service in response to the security emergency caused by ongoing violent protests in various parts of the country, resulting in the destruction and breaching of critical infrastructure,” Duale stated.
Thousands of protesters engaged in running battles with the police, who fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowds. Similar chaos erupted in major towns, including Nakuru, Mombasa, Eldoret, and Nyeri. Businesses were shut, and transport was paralyzed as police clashed with demonstrators calling for MPs to reject the proposed tax increases, according to Capital News.
As the situation escalated, President Ruto emphasized the need for law and order, pledging that his administration would take all necessary measures to prevent further unrest and hold accountable those responsible for inciting violence.
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, BBC reported.