At least 10 persons were killed and close to 50 injured as Kenyan police opened live rounds on anti-Finance Bill protesters in Nairobi on Tuesday.

Citing Vivian Achista, a paramedic, Reuters on Tuesday reported that at least 10 protesters were killed by Kenyan police outside Kenya’s parliament, while about 50 were injured. 

The police had killed a 24-year-old protester on Thursday.

The police resorted to live rounds, seeing protesters defying water cannons and teargas in protests that broke out last week.

In vehement opposition to the Finance Bill, which proposes tax imposition on cars, phones, bread, and other commodities, Kenyans hit the streets on penultimate Tuesday, rejecting the controversial bill.

Protesters eventually broke into Kenya’s parliament on Tuesday, defying police clampdowns and attacks.

Citizens TV Kenya posted videos of 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.

Earlier on Tuesday, human rights organisation Amnesty International condemned William 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.”

Although the parliament announced an adjustment to the Finance Bill, Kenyans have remained on the streets, rejecting it entirely.

“We have had a robust public engagement on the proposed Finance Bill,” Mr Ruto tweeted Wednesday. “We have adjusted the document accordingly. We are glad we are having conversations about issues and our institutions are working. This is how democracies function.”

Since he assumed office in 2022, Mr Ruto has introduced several taxes to settle Kenya’s national debt, estimated to be about $80 billion, reduce borrowings, and boost revenue generation.