Major protests have been taking place in Kenya since last week against new taxes envisaged in the 2024-2025 budget. Following peaceful demonstrations in Nairobi and other cities, tensions suddenly escalated on Tuesday. Demonstrators broke through police barricades and entered the Parliament building, causing serious damage. This is the first time since Kenya gained independence in 1963 that the Parliament building has been stormed by demonstrators.

The Kenya National Human Rights Commission (KNHRC), the official human rights body, reported 22 deaths in the country, including 19 in the capital Nairobi, "more than 300 injured and more than 50 arrested".

Commission chairperson Roseline Odede announced that she had "launched an investigation" into the deaths.

For the third time in eight days, people took to the streets against the authorities' draft budget for 2024-25, which includes tax increases. No casualties were reported on the third day of protests.

The text adopted by parliament on Tuesday has not yet been announced by President William Ruto.

Journalist and activist Hanifa Adan, one of the leading figures of the protests, said on X, "All sovereign power belongs to the Kenyan people. You cannot kill us all." Hanifa Adan added, "Tomorrow we march again peacefully wearing white for all our martyrs. You will not be forgotten.”