With tears in her eyes, Auma Obama expressed her support for young demonstrators who were rallying against a disputed tax legislation in the country.

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HUERTH, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 18: Auma Obama attends the 26th RTL Telethon (26. RTL Spendenmarathon) on November 18, 2021 in Huerth, Germany. Andreas Rentz/Getty Images

Barack Obama's half sister was tear gassed in Kenya on Tuesday while joining demonstrators urging lawmakers to reject a proposed tax increase. Auma Obama, a Kenyan activist, appeared on 'CNN' wiping her face and gasping for air, recounting her experience of being tear-gassed during a protest in Nairobi.

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TOPSHOT - A protester lobs back a teargas canister at police during a nationwide strike to protest against tax hikes and the Finance Bill 2024 in downtown Nairobi, on June 25, 2024. Kenyan police shot dead one protester near the country's parliament Tuesday, a rights watchdog said as demonstrators angry over proposed tax hikes breached barricades and entered the government complex, where a fire erupted. The mainly Gen-Z-led rallies, which began last week, have taken President William Ruto's government by surprise, with the Kenyan leader saying over the weekend that he was ready to speak to the protesters. (Photo by Tony KARUMBA / AFP) (Photo by TONY KARUMBA/AFP via Getty Images)

"I can't believe that these young people are just trying to demonstrate for their rights," Auma said in her interview with 'CNN.' She explained that she attended the protest to support the young demonstrators and "to tell them that we understand that they need to use their voices and we are being tear-gassed. We're being tear-gassed! We have flags and banners, nothing else."

On Tuesday, thousands of protesters descended on Kenya's Parliament after legislators passed a tax hike. As protesters stormed the building, lawmakers escaped through a tunnel, according to the 'Associated Press.' Amnesty International and other Kenyan civic groups reported at least five deaths, numerous injuries, and 21 missing persons.

Tsitsi Dangarembga Wins Peace Prize Of German Book Trade
FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY - OCTOBER 24: Auma Obama holds the laudatory speechs for Tsitsi Dangarembga, a writer and filmmaker from Zimbabwe, during the award ceremony of the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade (R) Friedenspreis des Deutschen Buchhandels) at the Paulus church on October 24, 2021 in Frankfurt, Germany. (Photo by Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images)

Amid rising frustrations over the cost of living, Kenyans opposed the tax hike, fearing it would exacerbate their financial hardships. They rallied under the slogan "7 Days of Rage" against the Finance Bill 2024, which aims to increase taxes for millions, as noted by 'The Hill.'

The tax increases are part of an effort to reduce Kenya's $80 billion debt.

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Protesters march while chanting anti-government slogans during a demonstration against tax hikes as Members of the Parliament vote the Finance Bill 2024 in downtown Nairoibi, on June 20, 2024. Thousands of mostly young demonstrators took to the streets across Kenya on June 20, 2024 to protest contentious tax hikes, with police deploying tear gas and water cannon in the capital Nairobi. (Photo by LUIS TATO / AFP) (Photo by LUIS TATO/AFP via Getty Images)

On Tuesday, the Kenya Human Rights Commission posted videos showing police firing at demonstrators and using tear gas amidst the turmoil. The organization has urged President William Ruto to "end repression of peaceful protesters."

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Protesters try to advance towards the police during a demonstration in Nairobi, on June 25, 2024. Kenyan police fired tear gas at crowds of young protesters in the capital Nairobi on Tuesday, as demonstrators rallied across the country against the government's proposed tax increases. The demonstrations, led mainly by Generation Z, which began last week, took President William Ruto's government by surprise, and he said over the weekend that he was ready to talk to the protesters, according to AFP reporters. (Photo by SIMON MAINA / AFP) (Photo by SIMON MAINA/AFP via Getty Images)

The movement against the finance bill has been largely driven by young people, who have used social media to rally support with the hashtag #RejectFinanceBill2024. Many of these young protesters had voted for President Ruto in 2022, believing his promises of economic relief. Now, they feel betrayed.

"I fell for his lies," one voter, Oscar Saina, shared with the 'AP.' "Now I'm out here regretting why I voted for him."