Nii Lante Vanderpuye recounts chaos in Kenya during visit

Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, the National Democratic Congress’ Member of Parliament for the Odododiodioo Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, has provided a first-hand account of the moment anti-tax protesters in Kenya invaded the National Assembly premises in Nairobi.

Mr. Vanderpuye, who was part of a five-member Ghanaian delegation visiting the Kenyan lawmaking chamber, recounted the chaotic scene led by young Kenyans.

He explained that the youth decided to "besiege Parliament and prevent the Senators from proceeding with the second reading of the Finance Bill."

Despite their efforts, the reading went ahead, and the bill was accepted before the protesters arrived in the chamber of the House.

"It was horrible because the youth were virtually now chasing the police. It got to a time the policemen were running away. The youth virtually overran the police, broke Parliament house gates, and burnt two police vehicles.”

“They were throwing their own canisters at the policemen. The soldiers came in, but they couldn’t stop them," Mr. Vanderpuye recounted on Accra-based TV3.

On Tuesday, protesters breached Kenya’s parliament and set portions of the House on fire following the Senate’s approval of the controversial tax bill.

In response, President William Ruto announced on Wednesday his decision to reject the bill and send it back to Parliament for reconsideration.

-Classfmonline