- He said that among those killed in the demos included journalists and medical personnel but did not divulge further.
- Tuesday protests were the most heated since they began, on June 18.
Image: FILE
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a statement regarding the anti-Finance Bill protests witnessed in various parts of the country on Tuesday.
Guterres said that he is saddened by reports of deaths and injuries that occurred during the protests.
"I am deeply saddened by the reports of deaths and injuries - including of journalists and medical personnel - connected to protests and street demonstrations in Kenya," Guterres said in a statement on Wednesday.
The UN boss went on to appeal to the Kenya government to exercise restraint when dealing with anti-Finance Bill protesters.
"I urge the Kenyan authorities to exercise restraint, and call for all demonstrations to take place peacefully."
Authorities place the number of deaths at only five, but the number could be higher.
Tuesday's protests were the most heated since they began, on June 18.
The protesters, mainly youths, stormed the streets to demand the rejection of the Finance Bill, 2024, in countrywide demos that also rocked President William Ruto's and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s home turfs.
Gunshots, tears and running battles marked the demos even as the MPs voted to amend various clauses fronted by the National Assembly’s Finance Committee.
The MPs eventually passed the Bill.
Transport was paralysed and business premises closed hurriedly as gunshots and tear gas rent the air in major towns across the country.
Ruto’s hometown, Eldoret, in Uasin Gishu county and Gachagua’s Nyeri town in Nyeri county, witnessed massive protests for the second time in as many weeks.
The youths also staged demos in the duo’s political strongholds of Kericho, Nakuru, Narok, Turkana, Embu, Meru, Kajiado, Laikipia, Nyandarua, Kiambu and Murang’a.
The youths overpowered anti-riot police, forcefully stormed Parliament and tried to set it ablaze on a day of chaos and bloodletting as anti-tax law demos swept the country.
The surging crowd, mostly youths, surrounded Parliament from nearly all corners and brought down parliamentary gates near the Jomo Kenyatta mausoleum under heavy clouds of tear gas.
Police fired bullets, killing an unknown number of people as MPs fled the rowdy mobs.
Protesters could be seen lying on Parliament Road, some in a pool of blood, but it was unclear whether they were alive or dead.
The Star was able to count at least three bodies lying on Parliament Road.