Parliament will investigate June 25 breach during protests, says MP Koech

Flames rise at the Parliament buildings on the day of a demonstration against Kenya's proposed Finance Bill 2024/2025 in Nairob, on June 25, 2024. (Photo: REUTERS/Monicah Mwangi)

By Maureen Kinyanjui
Monday, July 29, 2024

This comes amid questions on whether the legislative building has been conducting internal evidence to establish where there were security loopholes.

Belgut Member of Parliament (MP) Nelson Koech has revealed that an investigation is underway, although in its early stages, to identify those responsible for the breach of Parliament on June 25 during the anti-Finance Bill protests.

The Legislator during an interview at Citizen TV on Monday, noted that parliamentary security is collaborating with the National Police Service in a joint effort to collect evidence that will help hold the perpetrators accountable.

"There has not been any probe by parliament but there is an initiation of a process of evidence gathering by CCTVs and individuals who are capable," he said.

This comes amid questions on whether the legislative building has been conducting internal evidence to establish where there were security loopholes.

MP Koech also expressed confidence in President William Ruto's determination to hold everyone involved in criminal acts during the protests accountable, emphasising that even officers will not be exempt from scrutiny.

"It even includes sending a few officers away if they are found to be culpable so I'm sure it's a broad-based situation on how he is going to handle it," he noted.

"My responsibility as an MP is that we invite the responsible agencies to explain to the country what might have happened and what is this that IPOA is requesting from the police that they are not being given," Koech added.

Last week, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula revealed that property worth Sh94 million was destroyed during last month's protests on June 25.

Wetang'ula stated that the assessment and valuation were completed by an insurance company.

"That is the damage we suffered. So the insurance firm has taken up the matter," he said.

The Speaker highlighted that when the protestors invaded Parliament buildings on June 25, 2024, they broke the furniture, damaged the buildings and even smashed the television screen.

However, it was noted that taxpayers will not incur any costs as the insurance company will replace all the items, including repairing damaged structures.

On that day, Occupy Parliament demonstrators broke in through the parliament's barricades.

They opposed the passage of the Finance Bill, 2024 which MPs passed that morning with 195 votes against 106 who opposed.

The protesters uprooted the national flag within Parliament precincts with reports indicating that a number of the protesters were shot and killed outside Parliament.