Embakasi East Member of Parliament (MP) Paul Ongili alias Babu Owino has warned the National Police Service officers not to accept to be used to harass people who are protesting against the Finance Bill 2024.
On Tuesday, June 19, 2024, the public and the police clashed in Nairobi’s Central Business District with two cops were injured during the fracas.
Babu visited the injured police officers who are being treated at Nairobi West Hospital and as he wished them well in their recovery journey, the vocal legislator warned them from harassing people who are also fighting for their economic well-being.
“Yesterday evening, I visited Chief Inspector David Maina, the policeman who got injured while handling a tear gas canister and Corporal Moraa at the Nairobi West Hospital to check on their recovery. While CI Maina suffered terrible injuries, we are happy with the good work that the doctors and nurses of the Nairobi West Hospital are doing to ensure he recovers,” Babu posted on X.
“It is unfortunate that anyone should suffer injuries in the exercise of citizens’ democratic rights.”
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) legislature emphasised that the country belongs to everyone and that the police should not be used to fight those pushing for a just society.
“To our police brothers and sisters, these young people are fighting for you as well; do not accept to be used to stifle freedom in our beloved Kenya. This country belongs to all of us and we have no other so we must get it right,” he added.
Meanwhile, as the public and the police clashed on the streets of Nairobi, the Kenya Kwanza parliamentary group adopted a revised version of the Finance Bill where contentious issues were deleted.
According to President William Ruto, this was adopted after conversations over national issues.
“We have had a robust public engagement on the proposed Finance Bill. We have adjusted the document accordingly. We are glad we are having conversations about issues, and our institutions are working. This is how democracies function,” the President said after meeting members of his party at State House on Wednesday.
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