Kenya's president William Ruto is withdrawing a bill on tax increases following Tuesday's demonstration where over 20 people were killed.
The people have spoken, says the president at a press conference.
From Wednesday morning, the police presence was large around the parliament in Nairobi, where the smell of tear gas still lingered, according to an AFP reporter on the spot. Rubbish and debris were being cleared away after the clashes.
Thousands of people, mostly students, broke through police barriers and into the parliament building, which was set on fire. The government sent out the military in the evening to help the police handle the situation.
The events were broadcast live on TV.
Mourning the deaths
At least 22 people were killed during the protests, according to the state-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), which promises an investigation into the events.
We have registered 22 deaths ... we will initiate an investigation, says the organisation's chairperson Roseline Odede, adding that 19 of them died in the capital Nairobi.
The country's president Ruto acknowledges that the bill caused "widespread discontent", and mourns the deaths during the protests. He also expresses his condolences to the relatives.
"Madness"
One of the demonstration organisers calls the president's withdrawal a PR stunt:
"The proposal has been withdrawn, but how will you bring the dead back?" writes Hanifa Adan on X.
A police officer at the broken police barriers outside the parliament says on Wednesday morning that he saw what happened on Tuesday on TV.
It was madness, we hope it will be calm today, he says.
The demonstrations began last week, when thousands of people marched in protest against a controversial tax increase. The resistance has largely been led by young Kenyans.
