Kenyan Police on Tuesday opened fire on demonstrators trying to storm Kenya's Legislature, resulting in at lease 5 fatalities.

Authorities said that while at least 5 protestors were fatally shot, dozens were wounded and sections of the parliament building were set on fire with lawmakers inside passing legislation to raise taxes.

It is reported that police opened fire after tear gas and water cannon failed to disperse protestors.

According to Reuters, some paramedics at the scene reported at least 50people wounded by gunfire.

In chaotic scenes, protesters overwhelmed police and chased them away in an attempt to storm the parliament compound. Flames could be seen coming from inside.

A protestor told Reuters that the collective demand was the resignation of all parliament members and for the parliament to be shut down.

Protests and clashes have been reported in several cities and towns across Kenya.

Kenyan parliament approved the finance Bill after a third debate by the lawmakers. The parliament's next step would be to send the Bill to the president for ratification who can either approve or return the Bill to parliament for revisions.

Kenyans have been opposing tax raises in the wake of the rising cost-of-living and economic crisis, with many protestors calling for the resignation of President William Ruto.

Ruto was elected president almost two years ago, after championing Kenya's working class, but has since been struggling to get the country out of debt and meet the demands of International Monetary Fund (IMF) which has been urging the government to cut deficits to access more funding.

Kenyans have been struggling to cope with several economic shocks following the Covid-19 pandemic, war between Ukraine and Russia, two consecutive years of droughts, and the depreciation of currency.

The finance Bill aims to raise an additional US$2.7 billion in taxes through austerity measures to lighten the heavy debt load, with interest payments alone consuming 37 percent of annual revenue.