“Kenya protests turn deadly over tax hikes, sparking national outcry.”

At least 22 people were killed in Kenya on Tuesday as police opened fire on protesters opposing government proposals to increase taxes aimed at reducing national debt. The youth-led demonstrations, initially peaceful last week, turned violent when crowds stormed and set fire to parts of the parliament building.

The death toll from the protests in Kenya has now risen to 22, according to an official from the main doctors’ association who spoke to AFP on Wednesday. Anti-tax hike rallies escalated into violence as police fired at demonstrators who had ransacked parliament.

The unprecedented violence, which saw parts of parliament burnt and scores injured on Tuesday, has shocked Kenyans and prompted President William Ruto’s government to deploy the military.

The protests, largely led by youth, began peacefully last week with thousands marching in Nairobi and other cities against the proposed tax increases. However, tensions erupted on Tuesday afternoon when police fired live rounds at crowds that had breached the parliament complex. Defense Minister Aden Bare Duale later announced the military’s deployment to support police in handling what he termed a “security emergency.”

“We have confirmed at least 22 deaths, but this figure may not be final,” said Simon Kigondu, president of the Kenya Medical Association, noting the unprecedented violence against unarmed people. The headlines in local newspapers reflected the gravity of the situation: “Deaths, mayhem,” blared the Standard, while the Daily Nation described the scene as “Pandemonium,” stating, “The foundations of the country have been shaken to the core.”

An official at Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi reported that medics were treating “160 people… some with soft tissue injuries, others with bullet wounds.”

In a late-night press briefing, President Ruto condemned the violence and warned of tough government action against “violence and anarchy,” likening some protesters to “criminals.”

“The scenes at parliament, broadcast live on television, have taken us by surprise,” he admitted. Images showed the ransacked building with burnt furniture and shattered windows after protesters breached barricades. As police fired into the crowds, leaving bodies on the ground, protest organizers urged demonstrators to walk home together and “stay safe.”