Kenyan Riots, Red Cross Vehicles Attacked Due To Rumors Of Transporting Members Of Parliament

UNSPLASH/Colin Lloyd ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - The Kenyan Red Cross said some of its vehicles were attacked until staff and volunteers were injured during the demonstration riots against the Tax Law.

However, it was not stated which person or group injured his staff and volunteers and attacked his vehicle.

The Kenyan Red Cross said in a post on X that the attack was allegedly related to rumors they were transporting Kenyan lawmakers.

"We have no contact or role in transporting people other than injured victims," he said as quoted by CNN, Tuesday, June 25.

The Rumor must be stopped. We cannot provide life-saving intervention without access and security for our staff and volunteers," added a statement from the Kenyan Red Cross.

The humanitarian organization uploaded images of broken windshields and broken glass in vehicles.

Police previously opened fire on protesters who tried to storm Kenya's legislative building on Tuesday, June 25 which left five protesters dead.

Dozens more were injured and several parts of the parliament building were burned down when lawmakers in it passed legislation to raise taxes.

Parliament approved the draft financial law, and passed it on to a third discussion by lawmakers. The next step is to send the law to the president for signature. The president can send it back to parliament if he objects.

Protesters oppose tax increases in a country that has been shaken by the cost of living crisis, and many have also called for President William Ruto to step down.

The financial bill aims to increase additional taxes of USD 2.7 billion as part of efforts to ease large debt burdens, with interest payments alone spending 37 percent of annual income.

The government has provided some concessions, pledging to cancel new tax proposals on bread, cooking oil, car ownership and financial transactions. But that's not satisfactory enough.