By Peter Ochieng
Normal operations came to a near standstill within the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) on Tuesday afternoon, after hundreds of Kenyans turned up for ‘Occupy Parliament’ demos against the Finance Bill, 2024.
The protestors settled on demos initially planned to be peaceful as a weapon against Members of Parliament (MPs) passing the Bill, which has been termed as punitive by various stakeholders.
Several protestors and journalists were clobbered by police officers who used brutal force to reign in on them, with a vehicle belonging to Cape Media, a company that owns TV47 having some of it’s screens smashed by the officers.
Kenyans came out in large numbers for the ‘Occupy Parliament’ demos, despite the finance and national planning committee in the national assembly striking out some of the provisions in the contentious Bill.
When they approached the National Assembly, police officers led by Adamson Bungei, Nairobi County Police Commander tackled them with water canons, as hide and seek game ensued.
Some were arrested among them journalists attached to AFP and Standard Media Group.
Standard Media Group camera person Justus Mwangi was arrested, placed into a police land cruiser, before being thrown out of the speeding vehicle.
A TV47 vehicle was hit by a teargas canister while journalists were inside. The vehicle had been packed along Kimathi street.
Kenyans have vowed to carry on with the demos until the Bill is completely withdrawn.
The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) in a strong worded statement lashed out at the police following incidents of harassment and arrest of journalists, who were covering the protests.
MCK Chief Executive Officer (CEO) David Omwoyo termed the attacks by armed police officers as unwarranted.
He identified at least five journalists who were unjustifiably attacked and arrested, while in the line of duty.
“Among those who were targeted included Joe Muhia and Iddi Ali Juma of AP who were arrested and later released after being assaulted. In an incident captured on video, Standard Group video editor Justice Mwangi Macharia was arrested and violently hauled out of a moving police motor vehicle, sustaining physical injuries.”
“Nation Media Group’s Taifa Leo reporter Sammy Kimatu was also thrown out of a moving police Land Rover, sustained injuries and is currently receiving treatment. Maureen Murethi (NTV ) has also been hospitalised after police aimed a canister at her as she covered the protests.”
He said the unfortunate events remind Kenyans that members of the National Police Service remain the weak link in Kenya’s quest for freedom of expression and freedom of the media.