Some Ghanaian MPs have been caught up in the unrest in the Kenyan Parliament.
The MPs who are members of the Local Government Committee of Ghana’s Parliament were on an official visit to the Eastern African country and its Legislature.
They include Chairman Emmanuel Gyamfi, Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, Thomas Ampem Nyarko, Sylvester Tetteh, Mohammed Tuferu, and the Clerk of the Committee.
On Tuesday afternoon, hundreds of Kenyans protesting the Finance bill violently besieged the country’s Parliament. The unrest escalated when the protesters breached the Parliament’s barriers just hours after police shot several demonstrators outside the Parliament Buildings.
The protesters set multiple police vehicles on fire as tensions soared outside the country’s legislature. Earlier in the day, MPs had voted to approve the Finance Bill, 2024, which protesters argued imposes a wave of new taxes.
This incident marks the first time in Kenya’s history that protesters have managed to break through barriers and gain access to the Parliament despite heavy security measures.
Among those caught in the turmoil were the Ghanaian MPs who were in Kenya for an official study visit alongside their counterparts from Namibia and Malawi.
According to mybrytfmonline.com, the Odododiodio MP indicated “We are safe in Nairobi. We were lucky to escape unhurt today. We, however, inhaled a bit of tear gas. We had to be escorted to a bunker and later to a safer place.”
Asuogyaman MP Thomas Ampem Nyarko added that they were still awaiting evacuation from their safe haven to their hotel.
By: Ekow Annan/newsalertgh.com
