Kenyan MPs are still recovering after anti-tax protesters overpowered police and invaded parliament on Tuesday.
However, two legislators expressed gratitude to some protesters who came to their aid during the chaos.
MP Rose Museo, who uses crutches, shared her experience with the BBC, saying, “I was very scared and prayed to God as about 22 young protesters surrounded me.” Museo and her colleague Jackson Kosgei, who uses a wheelchair, were left stranded during the two-hour assault. Their fellow MPs escaped through an underground tunnel.
The protesters, mainly young people, broke windows and eventually entered the chambers, causing significant damage and setting part of the building on fire. Ms. Museo, an opposition MP, had just voted against the finance bill that sparked the protests.
Initially, the demonstrations were peaceful, with thousands marching in Nairobi and across Kenya. However, tensions escalated when the bill passed despite widespread opposition. Police fired on the crowd outside parliament, and soon after, protesters breached the assembly’s compound.
“I couldn’t use the lifts because the power was cut off,” said Ms. Museo, who was injured in a 2017 road accident. Mr. Kosgei, from the ruling party, noted, “We were inside the chamber, and all of a sudden, our young men stormed in, and everyone was looking for an escape route.”
The protesters did not harm the MPs but helped them move to a safer area. “They knew who I am and even knew how I had voted,” said Mr. Kosgei. “But they told me I was a good man and escorted me out of the building.”
Ms. Museo was also surprised by the protesters’ kindness, saying, “They told me: ‘Our problem was the finance bill – not you.'”
Despite the violent scenes, the MPs acknowledged the humanity shown by the protesters. Mr. Kosgei thanked them for “saving my life and that of Ms. Museo when everyone ran away.”
However, MP Millie Odhiambo speculated that the protesters were using the disabled MPs as human shields. Ms. Museo countered, saying no police were present when the protesters were helping her.
Lawmakers, including Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, were evacuated through a tunnel to the Bunge Towers. Police eventually drove the protesters from the building with tear gas and gunfire, while some MPs were taken away in ambulances.
Later, President William Ruto condemned the invasion as a “treasonous” act but announced the withdrawal of the controversial legislation following the protests. He also promised to start a dialogue with Kenyan youth and implement austerity measures.
Ms. Museo emphasized the need for proper evacuation plans for disabled MPs and supported the president’s call for dialogue, urging protesters to give it a chance before returning to the streets if necessary.