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In a televised address to the nation Tuesday, Kenyan President William Ruto condemned protesters' storming of the parliament as treasonous and a threat to national security.
"Today's events mark a critical turning point on how we respond to threats to our national security," Ruto said.
Thousands of Kenyans enraged by a new tax-raising measure clashed in cities across the country. But in the capital, Nairobi, they fought their way past the police and into the parliament, setting it on fire and demanding that lawmakers reject the proposed tax hikes.
"We're coming for every politician," protesters were heard shouting.
Police responded with volleys of tear gas and rubber bullets, then fired live ammunition when the crowd failed to disperse.
The Kenya Medical Association said in a joint statement with other groups that at least five people were killed while treating the wounded. More than 30 people were wounded, the statement said, including 13 from live bullets. The Kenyatta National Hospital said it admitted 45 individuals.
"It is not in order or even conceivable that criminals pretending to be peaceful protesters can reign terror against the people, their elected representatives and the institutions established under our constitution and expect to go scot-free," Ruto said, adding that there would be a swift response to Tuesday's "treasonous events."
The lawmakers made it safely out of the building, and the fires were later put out.
A joint statement from 13 Western ambassadors expressed regret at the injuries and loss of life during the protests and called for restraint on all sides. A U.S. official told VOA that "we're closely monitoring the situation in Nairobi" and that the U.S. urges calm and condemns any violence.
Lawmakers passed the bill containing the tax increases on a 195-106 vote before fleeing the premises. It now goes to President William Ruto to sign into law.
Demonstrations against the finance bill also took place Tuesday in the cities of Mombasa, Kisumu and Naivasha.
Kenya has seen a growing youth-led movement in recent days against the tax increases, which the government says are necessary to continue to pay the interest on its high sovereign debt.
The protests have largely been peaceful, but domestic and international human rights groups say two people were killed during demonstrations last week, while accusing police of illegally detaining protesters.
Lawmakers scrapped some proposed increases from the measure, including new taxes on bread, car ownership and financial transactions. However, that didn't appear to satisfy protesters who say the cost of living in Kenya is already too high.
VOA's Mariama Diallo and Jeff Seldin contributed to this report. Some information came from Reuters and The Associated Press.
The Voice of America provides news and information in more than 40 languages to an estimated weekly audience of over 326 million people. Stories with the VOA News byline are the work of multiple VOA journalists and may contain information from wire service reports.