President William Ruto’s government deployed Kenya Defence Forces to join forces with police to crush anti-Finance Bill protesters ahead of his 9:00 p.m. broadcast on Tuesday.

Aden Bare Duale, Mr Ruto’s cabinet secretary for defence and chairperson of the Defence Council, announced the military deployment in a circular dated June 25.

Citing Kenya’s constitution, Mr Duale said, “The Kenya Defence Forces is deployed on June 25, 2024, in support of the National Police Service in response to the security emergency caused by the ongoing violent protests in various parts of the Republic of Kenya resulting in destruction and breaching of critical infrastructure.”

The Kenya Defence Forces comprise the Kenya Army, air force, and navy.

This comes after Kenya police killed at least 10 and injured about 50 on Tuesday as citizens protested the Finance Bill proposing the imposition of tax on cars, phones, bread and other commodities.

Hundreds of angry protesters broke into Kenya’s Parliament on Tuesday, defying police clampdowns and attacks.

Viral videos show City Hall on fire, burning vehicles parked inside Kenyan Supreme Court premises and some protesters vandalising properties in the parliament amid nationwide protests against the Finance Bill.

The U.S., UK, Germany and Canadian governments, in a joint statement, expressed concerns as Kenyan Police opened live rounds on protesters.

Earlier on Tuesday, human rights organisation Amnesty International condemned Mr Ruto’s government for secretly abducting citizens amid nationwide protests against the controversial Finance Bill.  

The human rights organisation said, “Twelve abductions have taken place over the last five days, with an alarming surge last night.”