Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has called on Kenyans to prioritize dialogue and avoid violence amid recent anti-government protests.
Speaking at the signing ceremony of the IEBC (Amendment) Bill, 2024, held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Gachagua noted the importance of peaceful consultation.
“In the situation we are in, we want to call upon the people of Kenya that violence begets violence. Now that the president has agreed to have a discussion with our young population, with our leaders,” Gachagua said.
Gachagua condemned the destruction of property and asked people to leave the streets and embrace talks and peaceful consultations with their leaders.
“We call upon the people of Kenya to give dialogue a chance, to give consultation a chance, get off the streets, stay away from the destruction of property because Kenya is greater than all of us,” Gachagua stated.
The Deputy President expressed confidence in President William Ruto’s ability to guide the nation through these challenging times, urging citizens to trust in the leadership and direction being offered.
“I think your Excellency, you have the capacity to lead us in that direction,” he added.
In Nairobi, heavily armed Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officers were seen maintaining vigilance from atop an armoured vehicle as the demonstrators proceeded with their planned protests.
Protesters expressed their distrust of Ruto, despite his move to return the finance bill to parliament and his promise to make budget cuts as an alternative to the proposed new taxes and fees on items such as egg imports and bank transfers.
Although on a smaller scale than Tuesday, June 25, 2024 protests, the chants were still the same ‘Ruto must go’.
Parliament breached
On Tuesday, June 25, 2024, chaos erupted as protesters breached parliament and caused massive destruction and vandalism within Parliament buildings.
Several protesters were shot in the fierce clash with the anti-riot police. Inside Parliament, chairs in the lounge area were turned upside-down, windows shattered, and walls destroyed.
More demonstrations were witnessed across the country including Nakuru, Mombasa, Nyeri, Kisumu, Kakamega, and Meru, among other regions.
