Police have warned of possible disruption of traffic flow on some roads near the Parliament Building as part of efforts to contain a planned protest outside Parliament in Nairobi to oppose the Finance Bill, 2024. More anti-riot teams were mobilized in readiness for the deployment to start from mid-day on Tuesday, police said.
Police are aware of the situation and have been ordered to “diffuse” the protest from the start, meaning the teams will be dispersing any group seen gathered in the city. Motorists have been advised to plan their commute well from midday to avoid being caught up in the chaos, as more officers will be deployed, and some roads may be blocked. Only authorized motor vehicles and persons will be allowed on Parliament Road.
The protest, dubbed “Occupy Parliament,” is planned for Tuesday, June 18, when the Bill is expected to be tabled in the House. The voting on the Bill is expected on Thursday, June 20. President William Ruto met with a group of Members of Parliament at State House on Tuesday for a briefing ahead of the tabling of the Bill.
The protest organizers have notified the authorities of their plans, and top police commanders have been meeting separately to discuss how to handle the situation. There are fears that the protesters may block the Members of Parliament from accessing the House, leading to the deployment of anti-riot teams.
However, one of the organizers, Boniface Mwangi, has denied the claims, stating that the protest will be peaceful to pass a message to the legislators. He has also suggested that the police should have called the organizers to plan together on how to conduct the protest.
Nairobi police commander Adamson Bungei has expressed concerns that the protest may disrupt businesses, as the police do not know what the group wants. A recent survey conducted by Infotrak indicated that an overwhelming 87% of Kenyans are opposed to the revenue mobilization measures proposed in the Bill.
The National Assembly’s Finance Committee retreated on Wednesday to write a report on the Bill ahead of its expected tabling in Parliament on Tuesday. Aware that police will be deployed to disperse the gathering, the organizers of the protest have advised those who will answer their call and show up to come prepared for the worst, advising them to carry placards, handkerchiefs, and bottles of water.
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