By Peter Ochieng
Kenyans are out in major towns across the country, demonstrating against the Finance Bill, 2024.
Armed with placards calling on Members of Parliament (MPs) not to pass the Bill, crowds comprising majorly of Kenyans born in or after 2000, popularly known as millennials and Gen-Z are on the streets chanting slogans against the piece of legislation.
The peaceful demos are randomly being held in areas such as Nairobi, Kisumu, Eldoret, Nakuru and Nyeri among others.
In Kisumu, several businesses remain shut as owners fear being looted, despite planners assuring the country that the demos would be peaceful.
Protesters in the Lakeside City assembled at Kondele, signaling the beginning of the demos.
Most of the demonstrators hit the streets after being mobilised through social media platforms, led by activists such as Boniface Mwangi.
President William Ruto, seemingly putting on a brace face in the face of public outcry over his punitive tax policies said every Kenyan has the right to peacefully assemble, picket and protest.
He however noted that the demos will not change his Kenya Kwanza administration’s plans aimed at ‘stabilising’ the country’s economy.
Meanwhile, National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi has called for withdrawal of the heavy police deployment at Parliament buildings, in Nairobi.
Wandayi sought Speaker Wetangula’s intervention on the matter, claiming that the substantial police presence at Parliament was hindering legislators from accessing the chambers to participate in the ongoing debate on the contentious Finance Bill 2024.
“Mr. Speaker, as you can see, the house is not full and some members are finding it difficult to pass through the police blockades to access the House. I have personally had to struggle to get here,” he said.
“The issue is that the entire Parliament precinct is cordoned off by individuals who appear to be police officers. We live in a democratic country, and this house symbolizes our democracy. No one in this country has the authority to establish a blockade around Parliament. There has been no state of emergency declared under the constitution.”
He urged the Speaker to direct the Inspector General of Police to withdraw the officers, who have turned ‘this house into what resembles a military installation.’
However, Majority Whip Sylvanus Osoro dismissed Wandayi’s remarks, stating that the police were merely exercising their independent mandate to ensure peace and order for both MPs and protesters involved in the ‘Occupy Parliament’ demos.