1 killed, 39 injured in protests against rising costs in Kenya

The Kenyan police confirmed on Friday that one person was killed in Thursday's protests against the rising cost of living in Nairobi, capital of Kenya.

Rex Kanyike Masai, 29, was shot and killed as he and others protested a controversial finance bill that seeks to raise taxes on a wide range of items that protesters said will pile more economic hardship on citizens.

The police have since launched investigations into the fatal shooting, which happened in Nairobi's central business district.

Meanwhile, the Kenya Red Cross Society said that 39 people were injured in Thursday's protests, and eight of the critically injured ones have been evacuated to Kenyatta National Hospital for specialized treatment.

One police officer was admitted to hospital with a hip injury after he fell while escaping from the crowd.

Police managed to keep protesters away from the parliament building, where legislators were debating on the controversial bill.

Unlike the protests on Tuesday, which only occurred in Nairobi, Thursday's demonstrations spread to major towns across the country. Protesters have called for a national strike on June 25.

"Tuesday, 25th June: #OccupyParliament and Total Shutdown Kenya. A national strike," read a poster shared widely online by protesters, adding that, "Gen Z are granting all hard working Kenyans a day off. Parents, keep your children at home in solidarity."

On Tuesday, President William Ruto said his government had dropped proposals to impose new taxes on vegetable oil and a levy on various finished products that contribute to e-waste that harms the environment.

Among the tax proposals dropped in the bill were a 16-percent value-added tax on bread, transportation of sugar, foreign exchange transactions, financial services, and a 2.5-percent motor vehicle tax.

The protesters, however, want a total rejection of the bill, saying there are hidden clauses that would still load taxes on citizens.

Police Inspector General Japhet Koome said on Thursday that while the protesters' right to assemble would be respected, they will not be permitted to access critical government infrastructure or disrupt ongoing parliamentary proceedings.

There have been calls for police restraint as observers say the protests, dubbed "Occupy Parliament," could intensify.