Five Ghanaian MPs Caught in Violent Attack on Kenyan Parliament

On June 25, 2024, five Ghanaian Members of Parliament (MPs) and the Clerk to the Local Government Committee were caught in an attack on the Kenyan Parliament by protesters.

Nii Lantey Vanderpuiye, the MP for Odododiodio, revealed this during an interview on “Ghana Tonight” with Alfred Ocansey. The other MPs involved were Emmanuel Gyamfi (MP for Odotobri), Sylvester Tetteh (MP for Bortianar Ngleshi Amanfro), Thomas Ampem Nyarko (MP for Asuagyaman), Mohammed Hardi Tufeiru (MP for Nanton), and Clerk Anita Quartey-Papafio.

The MPs were in Kenya since June 22 on a benchmarking tour of the Kenyan National Assembly. On June 25, they had a meeting with the Finance Committee of the Kenyan Senate and were about to have lunch when the attack occurred.

Nii Lantey described how the protest was led by a group called Gen Z, which had organized demonstrations against the Kenyan government’s proposed new taxes aimed at raising $3.2 billion for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. The protesters, particularly the youth, felt that these 17 new taxes, including an echo tax, sanitation tax, and a nuisance tax on bread, were excessive and would worsen their financial struggles. They also criticized the government’s borrowing practices and demanded accountability.

The protesters decided to storm the parliament to prevent the second reading of the bill. The situation escalated as the police were overwhelmed, the Parliament House gate was broken, two police vehicles were set on fire, and tear gas canisters were thrown back at the police by the protesters.

The Ghanaian MPs and the Kenyan MPs were safely evacuated. Nii Lantey assured the families of the involved MPs, including Emmanuel Gyamfi, Sylvester Tetteh, Thomas Ampem Nyarko, Mohammed Hardi Tufeiru, and Clerk Anita Quartey-Papafio, that they were all safe.

Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, expressed deep concern over the violence in Kenya, urging calm and dialogue to address the underlying issues.

CNN reported that Kenyan President William Ruto condemned the protests, labeling them “treasonous,” and criticized the violent response, which included police using tear gas and live rounds. The defense ministry confirmed the deployment of the military to assist the police amidst criticism from human rights and civil society groups.

Ruto emphasized the need to separate criminal activities from democratic expressions and called for maintaining peace and security in Kenya.