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At least 13 protesters were killed during protests in Kenya, doctors say, and a section of parliament went up in flames as demonstrations against new tax proposals escalated on Tuesday.

An angry crowd broke through police lines to storm parliament in the capital Nairobi before setting parts of it ablaze.

In an address on Tuesday evening, President William Ruto said all means would be deployed to "thwart any attempts by dangerous criminals to undermine the security and stability of our country".

He has deployed the military to quell the protests. Several groups have accused the security forces of over-reacting by using live ammunition.

Protests against an unpopular finance bill, which includes several tax rises, have been ongoing for days. But they escalated on Tuesday as MPs passed an amended bill.

Wanjeri Nderu is Kenyan president of the International Society For Human Rights and was at the protests. Speaking to Newsday, she that she is "still a bit shaken" by what she saw.

"What happened yesterday was unnecessary, it was uncalled for, it was painful to see. Nobody deserved to die... What we need to do right now is ask the president to ask his security to stand down. Kenyans are not his enemy. People are suffering. His statement yesterday was scary," she says.

Newsday has approached the Kenyan government for comment but at the time of broadcast had not received a response.

(Image: Police officers argue with a protester during a demonstration against Kenya's proposed finance bill 2024/2025 in Nairobi, Kenya, June 25, 2024. Credit: Reuters/Monicah Mwangi)

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