Kenyan President William Ruto has blamed “a group of organized criminals” for storming parliament after peaceful protests.
The protests had been “infiltrated and hijacked”, Ruto said in a televised address on Tuesday.
The protests were sparked by a new tax law that introduces additional tax burdens and increases existing taxes. Since Tuesday morning, thousands of people have been demonstrating against the legislation across Kenya.
By midday, the protests had escalated into chaos, violence, looting and arson. In several cities, buildings of parliamentarians who voted in favor of the law were set on fire. At least two people have been killed in the unrest, according to Kenyan human rights groups.
“Kenya has faced an unprecedented attack on its democracy, rule of law and the integrity of its institutions,” Ruto said. “Today’s events mark a critical turning point in how we respond to serious threats to our national security.”
The government has mobilized all resources at its disposal to ensure that the incidents do not recur, he said. In the evening, Defense Minister Aden Duale announced that the army would be deployed to support the police.
