Nairobi: Despite the promised withdrawal of Kenya’s controversial tax bill, protests continued against the government of President William Ruto on Thursday, with gunfire reported in Nairobi. The situation was tense in the capital, where demonstrators announced a march to State House, Ruto’s official residence. Access roads were cordoned off over a wide area and numerous police officers and military personnel were stationed throughout the city. Streets around Parliament, which was stormed by demonstrators on Tuesday, were also blocked off. The first demonstrators gathered at midday in the centre of Nairobi, where many shops were barricaded. Television footage showed the police using tear gas against the crowds and shots were also heard. Demonstrations also reportedly took place in other Kenyan cities. In the third-largest city Kisumu, in western Kenya, several hundred people marched to the presidential lodge, another of Ruto’s official residences. (dpa)
