By Peter Ochieng
Security agencies have sealed off all roads leading to State House, Nairobi, as protesters embark on another day of demonstrations against the Finance Bill, 2024.
On Tuesday, President William Ruto announced that he had withdrawn the Bill in its entirety, after pressure from the youth led demonstrators.
However, the youth, known as Gen-Z and millennials who all along have been mobilized online, said they will be back on the streets to push for good governance and demand for accountability from political leadership in the country.
As a precautionary measure, police have blocked off roads leading to State House to prevent demonstrators from making good their threat of ‘Occupying State House.’
Dennis Pritt Road, State House Avenue, Processional Way, Valley Road and Jakaya Kikwete are among the roads affected.
Heavily armed elite security teams have sealed off all roads leading to and connecting to State House, with motorists being diverted to use alternative routes. Kenya Defence Force (KDF) officers are among security personnel within Nairobi streets.
On Tuesday, the protestors occupied the National Assembly after a deadly confrontation with police officers, sending members of Parliament (MPs) into a panic mode. They were swiftly evacuated by security officers within the precincts of Parliament.
Kileleshwa Member of the County Assembly (MCA) Robert Alai and activist Boniface Mwangi have however warned youth against the idea of trying to occupy State House.
“Whoever is now mobilising the young people for further protests is killing their legitimacy and destroying them so that they will not be taken seriously. Don’t go to the State House. If possible, don’t protest today,” posted the MCA.
“What happens when the State House is invaded? Who runs the country? We have to be careful we don’t get incited into throwing our country into turmoil. Invasion of the State House isn’t a solution. Countries are run by institutions, and the presidency is an institution. So, if we want to take back our country, we must chart a path that allows that without throwing the country into anarchy,” said Mwangi.
“Today, we fully occupy Parliament and make our demands. Parliament is our ground zero, where brave young people sacrificed their lives for a more equal and humane Kenya. The constitution is a powerful tool to use in the fight to reclaim from the hands of goons, and the mafia.”