Kenyan activist Auma Obama, half-sister of former US President Barack Obama, was among the protesters targeted with tear gas by police on Tuesday during a demonstration outside the parliament building in Nairobi, Kenya.
The protest turned deadly when police fired at demonstrators attempting to storm the legislature, resulting in at least five fatalities and dozens of injuries, Reuters reports.
As chaos erupted outside the parliament building in Nairobi, with parts of the structure being set on fire, lawmakers inside approved a controversial bill to increase taxes.
Amidst the turmoil, CNN reporter interviewed Auma Obama, who had been torn from the crowd, and asked her to explain her presence at the protest. Obama, visibly shaken but determined, shared her reasons for joining the demonstration.
“I’m here because – look at what’s happening. Young Kenyans are demonstrating for their rights. They’re demonstrating with flags and banners. I can’t even see anymore,” she said, beginning to cough and shield her eyes from the spreading smoke.
“We are being tear-gassed.”
As Auma Obama was being interviewed, a protester standing behind her held up a sign that read, ‘Colonialism never ended in Kenya’, while another demonstrator shouted, ‘This is our country! This is our nation!’, emphasizing the sentiment of resistance and frustration with the perceived lingering effects of colonialism and the desire for self-determination.
Auma Obama had earlier shared photos of her participation in the protest on Twitter.
Meanwhile, the office of former President Barack Obama declined to comment on the incident involving his half-sister Auma or the violent clashes in Kenya, stating that they had no immediate statement to offer.
Kenyans took to the streets to protest a controversial finance bill that would significantly hike taxes on essential goods and services, exacerbating the cost of living in the country.
The proposed bill sought to introduce steep taxes on basic necessities like bread (16% sales tax) and cooking oil (25% duty), as well as increase taxes on financial transactions and impose an annual 2.5% tax on vehicle ownership, based on the vehicle’s value.
The protesters argued that these measures would disproportionately burden ordinary citizens and businesses, sparking widespread outrage and resistance.