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In Pictures: ‘Occupy Kenya’

Kenya’s highly paid politicians caused outrage by giving themselves another pay raise, but have since settled on a deal.

Demonstrators march through central Nairobi to the Kenyan parliament to protest pay-hikes voted through by politicians.
By Phil Moore
Published On 15 Jun 2013

Nairobi, Kenya – Protesting the proposed hike of Kenyan parliamentarians’ pay, civil society activists took to the streets of the capital, Nairobi, to protest against what they branded the “greed” of MPs.

Around 200 people marched through the streets of the central business district, intending to “Occupy Parliament”, taking inspiration from the US Wall Street protest movement.

Kenyan MPs are among the world’s best-paid law-makers, and last month President Uhuru Kenyatta urged them to accept a pay cut which would have seen their annual salaries reduced from $126,000 to $78,000. Yet the previous day, the MPs had voted to raise their salaries to 130 times the country’s minimum wage. The average annual income is approximately $1,800 in Kenya, or $150 a month.

When the protesters reached parliament, they were blocked from entering by anti-riot police. Carrying an effigy of a pig, having branded the MPs “MPigs”, they threw gallons of animal blood around the area and tossed mock bank-notes in the air.

“The country is strained by an expanding domestic budget,” the organisers said in a manifesto distributed at the protest, who said they were concerned by the MPs’ “heavy wage bill on our struggling economy”.

Following Tuesday’s protests, Kenyan MPs settled on a deal which will see them receive $6,300 each month, or $75,600 annually. They will also be entitled to a $59,500 car grant, a tax-free mileage allowance and a significant pension.

The protest went under the banner of the "Occupy" movement, with demonstrators intending to occupy the parliament building.
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A protester wears a mask painted as the Kenyan flag ahead of the demonstration.
While marching towards parliament, the demonstrators shut down roads as they waved placards denouncing the greed of Kenyan politicians.
A lady watches from a bus as protesters pass down a highway in central Nairobi.
Protesters were met by Kenyan anti-riot police, who prevented them from entering the parliament building.
A protester holds a copy of the Kenyan constitution as he lies on the ground outside the gates of parliament, surrounded by anti-riot police.
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Labelling the MPs "MPigs" at their perceived greed, demonstrators brought gallons of animal blood.
The blood was emptied outside parliament, as protesters brandished an effigy of a pig denouncing the MPs as "selfish" and "pathetic".
A demonstrator covered in animal blood gestures towards the parliament building.
Unable to enter the parliament building, the demonstrators chanted on the street covered with blood.
A child wears mock Kenyan shilling bank-notes, branded with images of pigs.
The fake notes and coins were tossed into the air in front of parliament.
Millions of Kenyans live in poverty. A young boy collects coins tossed by demonstrators.
A placard reading "there are a lot of guys hustling me" (in local Swahili slang) is reflected in a pool of animal blood.
Boniface Mwangi, an organiser of the protest, throws bags of animal blood through the locked gates of the Kenyan parliament.
A demonstrator stained by animal blood dances in front of the Kenyan parliament.
Despite a reputation for heavy-handed tactics, anti-riot police stood by and watched the protest without taking action against the demonstrators.
A man stands amidst the remains of a pig effigy as the protest ends.