Watch | Barack Obama’s sister attacked with tear gas at protest in Kenya | World News

The protest turned violent when police opened fire on demonstrators attempting to storm the Kenyan parliament, killing several people and injuring dozens. “We’re being tear gassed. We have flags and banners, that’s all; these people have nothing else,” Obama said.

Obama’s Foundation in Kenya

Auma Obama, who runs her foundation Sauti Kuu, which aims to give disadvantaged youth the opportunity to lead independent lives, questioned the actions of the authorities. She called on them to listen to the young people, saying: “How can you teargas your own people? Listen to them…”

According to CNN, the Sauti Kuu Foundation has been involved in numerous projects, including the opening of a vocational training center in 2018. This event was also attended by Barack Obama, who traveled to Kenya to support the initiative.

Why is Kenya protesting against the finance bill?

Thousands of Kenyans took to the streets on June 18 in protests against the Finance Bill. The bill proposes new taxes, including a green tax, that would increase the cost of products such as menstrual products and diapers. Although a proposal to tax bread was dropped after public outcry, many Kenyans remain frustrated by the rising cost of living.

The government argues that these tax changes are necessary to pay interest on the national debt, reduce the budget deficit and keep the government running, while protesters see them as punitive measures that will make their already difficult living conditions even worse.

Young Kenyans, organized on social media, are leading peaceful demonstrations across the country, including in the Indian Ocean city of Mombasa and Eldoret in the Rift Valley region, a traditional stronghold of the president, to pressure authorities to abandon the finance law altogether, the Associated Press reported.

Auma Obama, who pointed to Kenya’s significant unemployment problem, noted that over 80 percent of the population is under 35 years old in 2017, according to Kenya’s National Council for Population and Development. She criticized the government for “taxing the unemployed” and called for the creation of more job opportunities. “That’s why I’m here; I’m here to tell them I support them,” she said.

The news channel also reported that Obama was at the protest with her daughter. However, the reporting team had to quickly leave the event when more tear gas was used near them.

The finance bill is expected to raise an additional $2.7 billion in taxes and is designed to help Kenya’s high debt burden. Interest payments account for 37 percent of annual revenue. For many Kenyans, however, the law represents an additional burden on an already difficult economic situation.