Five Ghanaian MPs Caught in Kenya Violence Protest

Five Ghanaian lawmakers in Kenya for official duties were caught in the recent attack on the Kenyan Parliament by violent protesters.

The MPs, all members of the Local Government Committee of the Ghanaian Parliament, include Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye , MP for Odododiodio and Ranking Member of the Committee), Emmanuel Akwasi Gyamfi , Chairman of the Committee, Thomas Ampem Nyarko, Sylvester Tetteh, Mohammed Tuferu, and the Clerk of the Committee.

Kenyans have been protesting on the streets for the past few days, opposing tax hikes by burning tyres and physically clashing with law enforcement agencies. The protests have resulted in at least ten fatalities, raising concerns about the safety of the Ghanaian lawmakers.

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On Tuesday, June 25, protesters embarked on a violent protest against the Tax Levy Bill and besieged the Kenyan Parliament to stop legislators from debating the bill, which sought to impose a mobile money tax on ordinary citizens.

The unrest escalated when protesters breached the Parliament’s barriers just hours after police shot several demonstrators outside the Parliament buildings.

The protesters set multiple police vehicles on fire as tensions soared outside the legislature. Earlier in the day, MPs had voted to approve the Finance Bill, 2024, which protesters argued would impose a wave of new taxes.

This incident marks the first time in Kenya’s history that protesters have managed to break through barriers and gain access to Parliament despite heavy security measures.

Among those caught in the turmoil were the Ghanaian MPs, who were in Kenya for an official study visit alongside their counterparts from Namibia and Malawi.

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Nii Lante Vanderpuye, the MP for Odododiodio, told local media, “We are safe in Nairobi. We were lucky to escape unhurt today. We, however, inhaled a bit of tear gas. We had to be escorted to a bunker and later to a safer place.” Asuogyaman MP Thomas Ampem Nyarko added that they were still awaiting evacuation from their safe haven to their hotel.

Earlier on Tuesday, President William Samueo Ruto, in a televised address, appealed to the protesters to end the protest, promising to reconsider the tax policy.