By Patricia Mollyne Mataga
At least 8 people have been hospitalised while in critical condition following a day long protests in Nairobi.
According to the Kenya Red Cross, the eight are receiving treatment at the Kenyatta National Hospital.
It is not clear what led to them being in critical condition.
The agency further said 39 others sustained minor injuries during the protests that witnessed running battles between protesters and the police.
“Update: 39 injured, with 8 in critical condition and 31 with minor injuries. Those in critical condition have been evacuated to Kenyatta National Hospital for further treatment, thanks to a multi-agency rescue team,” the Kenya Red Cross said.
The humanitarian agency had earlier said they had attended to a number of people who needed first aid attention.
14 people were attended to on the group while another one person was taken to Kenyatta Hospital.
“Following the ongoing demonstrations in the Nairobi CBD, we have provided first aid to four injured people. Our first responders remain on standby in various areas across the country,” Kenya Red Cross Society said.
Hundreds of Kenyans took to the streets on Thursday to protest against the 2024 Finance Bill.
For the better part of the day, police in Nairobi lobbed test gas canisters at protesters to disperse them.
However, they were on several occasions be overwhelmed by the number of those participating in the demonstrations.
Similar protests were also help in other major towns among them Mombaa, Eldoret, Nakuru and Kisumu.
The protesters are demanding for the withdrawal of the bill.
However, a majority of Members of Parliament voted to take the bill to the second reading.