Kenya protesters ‘shot dead’ and fires started in parliament after controversial tax bill passes
Protesters in Kenya have reportedly been shot dead and fires started inside parliament after politicians voted in favour of a controversial tax bill.
At least 10 people were killed, according to paramedic Vivian Achista, after police opened fire when protesters entered the parliament compound.
Another paramedic said at least 50 more people were injured by the gunfire.
Images from the scene appear to show several motionless bodies on the ground.
Thousands were on the streets of Kenyan capital Nairobi on Tuesday to demand politicians vote against the new taxes.
Video from inside parliament showed tables and chairs overturned and smashed, while footage outside showed fires, tear gas and water cannon.
Protesters could be heard shouting “we’re coming for every politician” and some lawmakers were forced to flee parliament through a tunnel.
The office of Nairobi’s governor was also was set ablaze and unrest was reported in other towns and cities.
Former US President Barack Obama’s half sister, the Kenyan-British activist Auma Obama, was teargassed during a live interview with CNN.
Thousands protested in Kenyan capital Nairobi. Pic: Reuters
Pic: Reuters
Police also sprayed water cannon at protesters. Pic: AP
The bill will introduce new taxes, including an eco-levy raising the price of goods like period products and nappies.
A proposal to tax bread was removed after public outcry – with many Kenyans frustrated over the rising cost of living in the East African country.
There have been protests at every reading of the bill, with Tuesday being the third and final round.
The country’s president, William Ruto, must now sign-off the law but can send it back to parliament if he has objections.
Demonstrators climb on a water cannon truck. Pic: Reuters
The Kenya Human Rights Commission shared a video of police shooting at protesters and said they would be held to account.
Addressing President Ruto, the commission wrote on social media: “The world is watching your descent into tyranny! Your regime’s actions is an assault on democracy.
“All those involved in the shooting – actively or passively – must be held to account.”
Pic: AP
Pic: Reuters
The president had earlier said he wanted to have dialogue with the protesters and was “proud” of them.
But security forces have been accused of abducting prominent Kenyans, especially those with large social media followings.
Read more from Sky News:
Assange will not be extradited after reaching plea deal
Eight dead in fire at former Russian research institute
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
The Kenya Law Society president, Faith Odhiambo, said 50 Kenyans, including her personal assistant, had been “abducted” by people believed to be police.
Kenyan broadcaster KTN News said authorities threatened to shut it down over its coverage of the protests, while internet services also experienced severe disruptions during the unrest, according to internet monitor Netblocks.
The unrest comes as around 200 Kenyan police landed in Haiti as part of a UN-backed contingent hoping to stabilise the country after months of unrest and gang violence.
World
Jay Slater: Tenerife police call for volunteers to take part in large-scale search for missing British teenager
Police in Tenerife have called for volunteers to take part in a large-scale search for missing British teenager Jay Slater.
Officials said it would take place on Saturday in the village of Masca on the Spanish island.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Volunteers called for in Jay Slater search
In a statement, police said: “The Guardia Civil prepares and coordinates a large search to find the young British man missing in the village of Masca.
“The collaboration of all those volunteer associations is requested: Civil protection, firefighters, etc., and even private volunteers who are experts in the abrupt search terrain.
“The massive search will be carried out on Saturday, 29 June from 9am.
“Bearing in mind that this is an abrupt, rocky area, full of unevenness and with a multitude of ravines, paths and roads, the collaboration of all those associations of volunteers who can help in this raid that is intended to be carried out in a directed and coordinated manner is requested,” the statement said.
The Los Carrizales ravine which was being searched by police. Pic: Reuters
Canarian police officers carry out a drone search in the Los Carrizales ravine. Pic: Reuters
Police said volunteers should call the Guardia Civil before 8pm this evening if they want to join the search.
The 19-year-old, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, disappeared following an attempt to walk back to his accommodation after missing a bus.
The apprentice bricklayer had attended the NRG music festival on the island with two friends before his disappearance and was last heard from on Monday last week.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Police search mountains for Jay Slater
The walk from Mr Slater’s last known location, Rural de Teno Park in the north of the island, to his accommodation would have taken about 11 hours on foot.
Map showing Jay Slater’s last known location in Masca, Los Carrizales where police are searching and Los Cristianos, where Jay was staying
Meanwhile, one of Mr Slater’s friends told ITV’s This Morning about his last video call with the 19-year-old.
Brad, a close friend of Mr Slater, said yes to the reporter’s question as to whether he saw the missing teenager’s feet slide on rocks. He said that is how he knew Mr Slater was not on a road, and described the sound as when someone is walking on gravel or stones.
Brad added that Mr Slater went down a “little drop” in one of his last video calls.
Read more:
‘My son went missing in Ibiza – I know how Jay Slater’s parents feel’
He said the missing teenager was not concerned and that they were both “laughing” about the situation.
“He said, ‘look where I am’. He didn’t seem concerned on the phone until we knew how far away he were,” Brad said.
“I said, ‘put your location on’. He said: ’15-minute drive, 14-hour walk’. I don’t know if it’s accurate or not so I said to him: ‘It’s only a 15-minute drive, get a taxi’.”
Today’s police statement comes as Mr Slater’s family welcomed the help of a TikTok creator among those leading an online search for the missing teenager.
Sky News spoke earlier this week to Paul Arnott, who has been sharing clips of his own search effort on TikTok and said he came to Tenerife when he heard the family “needed help”.
According to The Daily Telegraph, his efforts attracted the interest of Mr Slater’s family, who contacted him and arranged a meeting on Thursday.
Jay Slater is an apprentice bricklayer. Pic: PH Build Group
“They said they’re really proud of what I’m doing,” Mr Arnott, 29, told the newspaper.
Mr Slater’s mother, Debbie Duncan, told the paper she has “every faith” in the police and singled out Mr Arnott, who runs the TikTok account Down the Rapids and describes himself as an “explorer”, and another TikTok creator Callum Rahim for thanks.
Read more:
Spanish authorities remain silent on missing teen
Emergency services using drones hone in on area
“[I] can’t thank Paul Arnott enough, also Callum Rahim and his friends for working alongside with the search and rescue teams,” she said.
“Myself, well, you know the state of my mental health and my paranoia, you saw it first hand. As a family, we are in a living nightmare.”
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Social media has also had a dark side for the family, with Ms Duncan and her son’s friends at the centre of conspiracy theories.
The construction company that employs Mr Slater shared a post on Facebook earlier on Thursday urging people to stop sending them “cruel” emails and to stop posting theories online.
Also on Thursday, Ms Duncan said £36,000 raised by more than 3,200 donations will help cover her accommodation and food costs during her extended stay on the island as well as support rescue teams.
A British man has died off the Greek island of Spetses.
He had been taking part in a yachting regatta and authorities said he was found dead on Friday.
The man, who was in his forties, was found in a bay area of the island with what appeared to be injuries on the left side of his head, according to the coastguard.
The Greek island, which is part of the Saronic Islands group, has an area of 27km² and is home to just over 3,700 people.
The coastguard added that he was taken to a local hospital where he was confirmed dead.
Local media reported the man was part of a team taking part in an annual classic yacht regatta running from 26 to 29 June.
Tourist deaths
A postmortem will be carried out to determine the cause of death.
There have been several recent cases where tourists have gone missing or died on Greek islands.
Earlier this month, TV medic Dr Michael Mosley was found dead after going missing on the island of Symi.
He had gone for a walk on his own from Saint Nikolas Beach and his wife said he had “so very nearly made it”.
The body of an American man was found on the Greek island of Mathraki.
Read more from Sky News:
Four major banks hit by glitches
Police call for volunteers to help search for Jay Slater
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
It comes after Greece has experienced severe heatwaves in recent weeks.
Some local media outlets have urged officials to tell tourists about the dangers of setting off on hikes in intense heat.
Temperatures reached 45C (113F) earlier this month, as schools in Athens closed their doors and Rhodes was hit by an earthquake.
One person has been killed and six more have been injured in India after part of the roof at an airport collapsed in heavy rain.
The incident at the domestic departure terminal of New Delhi‘s Indira Gandhi International Airport happened at around 5am local time on Friday as heavy pre-monsoon rains lashed the capital.
A crew removes water outside the airport on Friday. Pic: AP
All flight departures from Terminal 1 were temporarily suspended as rescuers cleared the debris to save anyone trapped, the airport authority said.
The collapsed roof at the domestic departure terminal. Pic: AP
Pic: AP
Some support beams also collapsed, damaging cars in the pickup and drop-off area of the terminal, local media reported.
Of the six injured, one was rescued from a car on which an iron beam had fallen.
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Civil aviation minister K Rammohan Naidu said first responders were working at the site and advised airlines to assist all affected passengers.
“Rescue operations are still ongoing,” he said in a post on X.
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports3 months agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports1 year agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Environment1 year agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Sports8 months agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports3 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment1 year agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Environment1 year agoTesla advances Powerwall pilot project with German electric company