Police during the Reject Finance Billl protests |
A section of Kenyans has taken to the streets of various towns in the country to protest against the Finance Bill 2024.
A contingent of police officers have been deployed in various key government installations such as the State House.
Police were also spotted in various streets of the Nairobi Central Business district and major towns across the country.
Parliament Buildings
Several key roads leading to Parliament buildings have been closed off by security officers.
Parliament Road and City Hall Way, among others, have been shut down to vehicular traffic and pedestrian access as security measures intensify.
Police water cannons and lorries have been used as barricades at key roundabouts leading to parliament.
Access to the area has been fully restricted and only open to authorized personnel upon proper identification.
State House
Red-beret elite Reece squad of GSU with dozens of armoured police tankers were Tuesday morning parked outside State House, Nairobi main Gate A – ahead of the demos.
A section of protesters hand hinted at marching to the State House.
Major Towns
Nairobi
Running battles have ensued in Nairobi Central Business District after police dispersed anti-finance bill protesters.
A crowd of protesters had gathered to demonstrate against the Finance Bill 2024 when chaos erupted.
Police hurled teargas canisters at the protesters who were armed with water and mobile phones to express their stand against the Bill.
Crowds had gathered as early as 7 am around the Kenya National Archives.
Most shops are closed as protests gain momentum.
Eldoret
Youths in Eldoret on Tuesday gathered in various areas ahead of the planned protests.
Riot police have taken positions in Eldoret where youth have begun gathering for the Finance Bill protests.
Hundreds of police officers have been deployed on the streets ahead of the demos.
The Uasin Gishu county government headquarters is among the key installations where security has been beefed up.
Mombasa
Thousands of young protesters have taken to the streets of Mombasa’s central business district to demonstrate against the Finance Bill 2024.
Dressed mostly in black and carrying anti-government placards, the demonstrators came from all six sub-counties of Mombasa: Kisauni, Nyali, Changamwe, Jomvu, Likoni, and Mvita.
Mobilization for the protest was organized over the weekend via social media platforms.
Protesters from Nyali and Kisauni gathered at Kengeleni along the Mombasa-Malindi highway, while those from Changamwe and Jomvu met at Saba Saba along Jomo Kenyatta Avenue.
Demonstrators from Mvita and Likoni converged at Mapembeni along Moi Avenue before the protest began on Tuesday.
The demonstrations have disrupted traffic on major roads in Mombasa.
Despite the presence of a few police officers, the protests have continued without interference.
The youth have pledged to vote out President William Ruto and his Members of Parliament if the Finance Bill, currently in its third reading, is passed.
Kisumu
Anti-Finance Bill demonstrators in Kisumu thronged various streets of the City in support of the ‘Reject Finance Bill’ call.
Peaceful protesters stormed the streets of the lakeside city with placards, songs, dances, and chanting anti-President William Ruto slogans.
The youths had gathered at Kondele grounds as early as 9 am where they started moving in groups and eventually began the protests.
Businesses in town remained paralyzed, with shops including supermarkets that had been earlier opened hastily closing by 9 am.
Transportation was also severely affected, with few vehicles seen stranded on the roads.
Police officers monitored the protestors along the streets.
Nakuru
Hundreds of youths have taken to the streets of Nairobi to Protest against the Finance Bill, 2024.
The group furst gathered at Nakuru Railways Station, the heart of Nakuru City, before they marched to the CentalBusiness district to protest.
The groups were carrying placard and twigs which they waved as they thronged the Kenyatta Avenue chanting ant-Finance Bill protests,
Another group made a peaceful match from Stage 140 in Nakuru Town West in the same style and are set to join their colleagues in Nakuru Town East later in the day.
A contingents if armed police officers were deployed in strategic areas in the youngest city in Kenya and were keenly monitoring the protests.
Counties where anti-Finance Bill protests are happening as at 10:50am
- Nairobi
- Mombasa
- Kisumu
- Nakuru
- Uasin Gishu
- Nyeri
- Laikipia
- Homa Bay
- Kisii
- Turkana
- Nyeri
- Narok
- Nyandarua
- Kwale
- Bungoma
- Tana River
- Murang’a
- Makueni
- Trans Nzoia
- Isiolo