The police arrested dozens of protestors within Nairobi streets as a section of Kenyans demonstrated against the Finance Bill, 2024.
The Finance Bill has sparked significant public outcry, with critics arguing that it will impose undue financial burdens on citizens already grappling with economic hardships.
Police in plain clothes arrested protestors who were converging at various meeting points within the Central Business District.
Kenyans who attempted to assemble outside the National Centre, National Archives, Kencom and Jeevanjee grounds were swiftly arrested.
They were driven away to various police stations within the city as the police heightened patrols around Nairobi.
“Please leave me alone, I am tired with this taxation,” yelled one of the female demonstrators arrested by police.
The women who had tried to resist boarding the police Landcruiser were pushed inside by an armed police officer in civilian clothing around Kimathi Street.
“This country belongs to all of us, stop taxing bread and diapers, remove tax on wheelchairs and milk powder,” another protestor said.
He was also arrested as police clamped down on protestors within Nairobi, hours after they banned the demonstrations.
The organisers of the protest dubbed ‘Occupy Parliament’ had said they were ready for the peaceful march and that they had met all the requirements.
Nairobi Regional Police Commander Adamson Bungei dismissed any plan to organise protests in Nairobi saying it was illegal.
Bungei said that no one applied for a gathering or picketing permit as expected. He said the protest was illegal and banned.
Bungei said they received a ‘faulty’ document dated June last year, which doesn’t meet the protest permission threshold.
“The notification they left at Central is dated June 17, 2023. It is faulty. We can’t allow them. No demonstration.”
“Kenyans should be allowed to do their business and those with grievances should direct them where they know well.”
