The Indian government issued an advisory on where not to go, why did the violence break out there? What is the new tax, on which there is a fight?

Nairobi. Following the outbreak of violence in the East African country, the Indian government has issued an advisory to its citizens, advising them to be ‘extremely cautious’. In fact, chaos has erupted in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, after police fired tear gas and water cannons to quell crowds that took to the streets to protest a proposed tax hike. Five people were killed and 31 injured in the deadly crackdown that rocked Kenya, NGOs including Amnesty Kenya said in a joint statement.

Protesters were largely peaceful last week, but clashes erupted in Nairobi on Tuesday, with crowds throwing stones at police, breaking barricades and forcing their way into the parliament complex. The agitation became so violent that thousands of protesters stormed the premises and set a part of the Parliament building on fire, forcing MPs to vacate it. In retaliation, Kenyan police opened fire and fired rubber bullets.

Where did the fight start?
The round of protests began when MPs voted on a finance bill offering new taxes. The new tax also includes an ‘eco-levy’ that will increase the cost of items like sanitary pads and diapers. The bill aims to raise taxes by an additional $2.7 billion in an effort to reduce the massive debt burden, which consumes 37 percent of annual revenue in interest payments alone. Following public outcry, proposals to tax bread, cooking oil, car ownership and financial transactions were dropped, but protesters are still calling on parliament not to pass the bill.

The opposition has also called for William Ruto to step down as president. Largely peaceful protests over the past few days turned violent on Tuesday when people took to the streets of the coastal city of Mombasa, the port city on Lake Victoria and other cities. Dissatisfaction over the bill has become a headache for the government which has failed to convince its citizens.

The Kenyan president promised action
President William Ruto vowed to crack down on “violence and lawlessness” after protests over tax hikes turned into mass chaos. “We will take full, effective and immediate action on today’s treasonous events,” news agency AFP quoted Ruto as saying. He said the protests were “taken by dangerous people”.

Indian citizens asked to exercise ‘extra caution’
The Indian High Commission in Kenya on Tuesday advised Indian citizens to exercise “extreme caution” in view of the “tense” situation arising out of violent protests in the African nation. “In view of the current tense situation, all Indians in Kenya are advised to exercise extreme caution, restrict non-essential movement and stay away from areas affected by protests and violence,” the Indian High Commission said in an advisory. According to an official estimate, there are currently about 20,000 Indians living in Kenya.