High drama in Nairobi CBD as anti-Finance Bill protests intensify

The Nairobi city centre witnessed high drama on Tuesday as protesters took to the streets to demonstrate against the Finance Bill, 2024.

From as early as 8 a.m., crowds gathered at various locations, including Archives, Afya Centre, Moi Avenue, and Kenyatta Avenue, waving placards and chanting slogans such as “Ruto must go.”

In a video seen by The Eastleigh Voice, a male protester was spotted standing on a truck belonging to the General Service Unit (GSU), a placard in hand, voicing his concerns about the bill.

“We, as Kenyans, are the ones who voted for these Members of Parliament, therefore, they should not intimidate us. The government should stop increasing taxes and start working for us. We won’t allow tax increments. Kenyans should come out and fight for their rights,” the protester shouted.

A few minutes later, the police attempted to arrest him, but the protester fled with witnesses, shouting in his support and asking the police not to pursue him.

Anti-Finance Bill, 2024 #RejectFinanceBill2024 protests in Nairobi CBD pic.twitter.com/SXwlB3qdAC

— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) June 25, 2024

In another video, two siblings were seen being arrested by police officers amid the chaos. The boy and girl were heard pleading with the officers, saying they hadn’t done anything wrong and were only just exercising their rights.

Despite their protests, officers were seen lifting them and attempting to swing them into the back of the police truck.

“The police came to arrest us yet we hadn't done anything wrong. We were just standing here. They are arresting and mishandling us,” the girl said.

The protests, under the hashtags #RejectFinanceBill and #OccupyParliament, began last week and are expected to continue for several more ahead of the presidential assent to the bill. Ruto has said he is open to talks about the proposals but has also noted that even as the protests take place and the public exercise their right, institutions must make the decisions.

The demonstrators have vowed to occupy parliament to stop MPs from passing the bill, prompting tight security in the Nairobi central business district and surrounding areas.

Several roads leading to Parliament, including Parliament Road and City Hall Way, have been barricaded by police water cannons and lorries.

Police face off with protesters along Moi Avenue in Nairobi CBD during the #RejectFinanceBill2024 demonstrations pic.twitter.com/fwQuSqbWmx

— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) June 25, 2024

Critics of the bill argue that the various proposed tax increases and economic measures will unduly burden ordinary citizens.

Kenyans working in the CBD opted to close their businesses in fear of the protests led by Gen Z.

In the wee hours of Tuesday, ahead of the nationwide demonstrations, social media reports emerged that key figures in the youth-led peaceful protests had been arrested but that their whereabouts remained unknown.

Among them were policy analyst Gabriel Oguda from the office of parliament's minority leader, Osama Otero, Drey Mwangi, and a man identified only as Franje.

Oguda’s brother, Zachary, posted online that the newspaper columnist was whisked away from his house by men believed to be police officers.

“Any tweets coming from @gabrieloguda were already scheduled. HE ISN’T SAFE [sic],” Zachary added in a post some minutes past 4 a.m.

These latest cases followed that of Shadrak Kiprono, alias Shad Khalif, who was abducted on Saturday night in Nairobi’s South B area and whose whereabouts remain unclear. He is also a vocal critic of President William Ruto.

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and tens of rights organisations have issued demands for the police to act in the interest of the public by exercising restraint in their response to the demonstrations and clarifying the whereabouts of these personalities.