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Ghanaian MPs visiting Parliament in Nairobi caught in the crossfire

Ghanaian MPs visiting Parliament in Nairobi caught in the crossfire

Some protesters inside the Kenyan parliament play videoSome protesters inside the Kenyan parliament

Some Ghanaian MPs from the Parliamentary Local Government Committee, currently on a parliamentary visit to Kenya, have been caught in the middle of the chaotic situation in the East African country as protesters continue to flood the streets.

This time, however, protesters broke into the Kenyan Parliament, just as Ghanaian MPs were visiting.

The unrest, which has been going on for several days, reached the Kenyan parliament on Tuesday (June 25), as hundreds of protesters stormed the parliamentary complex, expressing their discontent with a controversial finance bill that proposes tax increases. taxes.

Thick clouds of tear gas reportedly invaded Parliament as police attempted to disperse the crowd.

A BBC report said MPs were engaged in a heated debate over the finance bill before it was passed.

He added that hundreds of MPs were trapped inside the parliament building as police continued efforts to push back protesters who entered the complex.

Kenyans have protested the finance bill, arguing that it imposes an additional financial burden on citizens already struggling with high costs of living.

The government, for its part, insists that tax increases are necessary to increase revenue without worsening the national debt.

Initial proposals included a 16% sales tax on bread and a 25% duty on cooking oil.

In response to widespread public protests, the government made some concessions, but the amended bill, which still contains tax increases, was passed on Tuesday.

In a video made available to GhanaWeb, the moment is seen when Ghanaian MPs were directed to a safe location inside the Parliament building.

See the video below:

NO/AE