Auma Obama, sister of former U.S. President Barack Obama, and other protesters were teargassed on Tuesday as Kenya’s police cracked down on anti-Finance Bill protesters. 

A 24-year-old protester was shot dead Thursday in Nairobi.

A Kenyan-British activist, Ms Obama, was granting CNN’s Larry Madowo an interview at the venue of protest in Nairobi when a canister of teargas erupted, forcing everyone to scamper for safety. 

“Look at what’s happening. Young Kenyans are demonstrating for their rights,” Ms Obama said. “All they have are flags and banners. Nothing else. How can you teargas your own people, listen to them.”

Suffocating under the teargas, Ms Obama coughed, abruptly saying, “I can’t even see anymore. We’re being teargassed.” 

Mr Madowo could also be seen coughing hard after inhaling teargas, forcing him to end the interview with Ms Obama. 

This comes as another episode of Kenyan youth protest against the Finance Bill imposing a tax on cars, bread and other commodities. 

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.”

Penultimate Tuesday, widespread protests broke out as Kenya’s parliament deliberated on the controversial Finance Bill. The protest has seen a 24-year-old protester killed as Kenya police unleash violence on protesters with water cannons and tear gas.

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

“We have had a robust public engagement on the proposed Finance Bill,” Mr Ruto tweeted on 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 in a bid to settle Kenya’s national debt, which is estimated to be about $80 billion, reduce borrowings, and boost revenue generation.