Githunguri Member of Parliament Gathoni Wamuchomba on Thursday, June 20, 2024, appealed to police involved in quelling the Finance Bill 2024 protesters to stop maiming the youth.
In an address outside Parliament after the voting that ensured the controversial bill sailed through the Second Reading, Wamuchomba urged the police officers to exercise restraint when dealing with the protesters, adding that even police officers’ welfare issues are improved through Parliament.
“It is not right for them (police) to kill them, it is not right to maim them and if the government has a fight with the Finance Bill, come for us who are legislating the matter,” Wamuchomba said.
Waiguru appeals to police
This comes one day after Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru cautioned police officers against using excessive force on the demonstrators on Wednesday, June 19, 2024.
The Chairperson of the Council of Governors argued that the right to picket and demonstrate is enshrined in the 2010 Constitution.
“Every person, peaceably and unarmed, has a right to assemble, to demonstrate, to picket, and to present petitions to public authorities in Kenya. I therefore humbly urge law enforcement agencies to show restraint from the use of excessive force on peaceful demonstrators,” Waiguru said.
The governor assured protestors that their voices and concerns would be heard and that the government would consider their proposals.
“Meanwhile, we are listening. Thank you for your courage and honesty. This is what makes Kenya great,” Waiguru added.
Injuries during protests
As of 6 pm, Thursday, June 20, 2024, The Kenya Red Cross reported that some 14 Kenyans had been injured during the Finance Bill 2024 protests in Nairobi’s Central Business District alone, with one other person rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital for specialised treatment.
However, the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Davji Atellah said the injuries recorded were at least 300.
“In the wake of recent protests, the #MedicsForKenya team has reported treating over 300 injured demonstrators in Nairobi, a distressing testament to the excessive force employed by law enforcement,” Atellah stated.
For the better part of Thursday afternoon, police engaged protestors in running battles around the city while cordoning off Parliament Road and advising motorists to use alternative routes.
Reason for protests
The nationwide protests began on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, during the tabling of the Finance Bill 2024 in Parliament by the National Assembly Committee for Treasury and National Planning.
The protests would gain more impetus after the youth poured into the streets in numbers to oppose the entire Finance Bill 2024 even after amendments.
Among other changes, the ruling party announced that 16 per cent VAT on bread has been removed and the VAT on the transportation of sugar has also been removed.
National Assembly Finance Committee Chairperson Kuria Kimani further disclosed that there will be no increase in mobile money transfers. He said the contentious issue of 2.5 percent Motor Vehicle Tax that had been proposed has also been removed as well as the excise duty on vegetable oil.
Kuria announced that VAT on financial services and foreign exchange transactions has also been removed.
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