Kenyan activist Auma Obama during an interview with CNN

Police opened fire on demonstrators trying to storm Kenya's legislature on Tuesday, with at least five protesters killed, dozens wounded.

Kenyan activist Auma Obama, the half-sister of former U.S. President Barack Obama, was among protesters tear-gassed on Tuesday during demonstrations outside the parliament building in Nairobi, a CNN interview showed.

Kenyan activist Auma Obama during an interview with CNN

On Tuesday, as protestors attempted to storm Kenya's legislature, police opened fire, killing at least five of them, injuring many more, and setting parts of the parliament building on fire while MPs inside voted tax-hiking legislation.

Auma Obama was taken aside in the melee by a CNN reporter and asked why she was there.

"I'm here because - look at what's happening. Young Kenyans are demonstrating for their rights. They're demonstrating with flags and banners. I can't even see anymore," she said, beginning to cough and shield her eyes from the spreading smoke.

"We are being tear-gassed."

A man behind her carried a sign reading, "Colonialism never ended in Kenya," while another yelled, "This is our country. This is our nation."

Auma Obama earlier posted photos of herself on Twitter at the protest.

The office of former President Obama did not immediately return a call seeking comment on the incident involving his sister or the violence in Kenya.