Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka on Thursday, June 20, 2024, sent a message to the youth protesting against the Finance Bill 2024, stating he was impressed with their involvement in important political issues.
“Every hour, my admiration and appreciation for Kenya’s #GenZs grows by leaps and bounds,” Kalonzo noted.
“From Eldoret to Nairobi, Garissa to Nyeri, Kisumu to Nyeri, Nanyuki to the State House gates in Nakuru and Nairobi, as well as many other parts of the country, you have been conscientious protestors to The Finance Bill, 2024.”
The Thursday, June 20, 2024, protests took an unprecedented turn after people from most regions of the country took to the streets to voice their objections to the Finance Bill 2024.
The protests continued for the better part of Thursday evening, with career activists calling on the youth to leave town and retire to their areas of residence.
Kalonzo on police
The demonstrations are often met with strong police actions even as members of Parliament and political leaders called the law enforcers to exercise restraint.
Kalonzo expressed his disappointment with the police for what he said was the use of excessive power to control protestors.
“It is unfortunate that our security officers, who should be safeguarding you, are engaging in acts of intimidation and, when that spectacularly failed, resorted to the use of brutal force against you for peacefully exercising your constitutional rights to picket and demonstrate,” Kalonzo observed.
Finance bill sails
The contentious Finance Bill 2024 was approved for the Second Reading after 204 MPs voted in favour while the other 115 MPs voted against it.
“While your elder siblings, parents, and other family members continue to observe you with admiration, it is unfortunate that 204 Members of Parliament chose to ignore your voice,” Kalonzo noted
He maintained that the bill did not reflect the aspirations of Kenyans and that the ruling party had used their Parliament majority to push it through.
“I have repeatedly termed this Bill unreasonable, unsound, and uncorrectable. It is a grave betrayal of Kenyans and I applaud the 115 MPs who paid attention and Voted No on its Second Reading,” Kalonzo stated.
The ODM party’s Secretary General Edwin Sifuna observed that some of the party’s members voted with the government’s side, saying that disciplinary actions would be taken against the MPs.
On Tuesday, June 18, 2024, President William Ruto called a Parliamentary Group meeting at the State House where members of Parliament were whipped to vote for the Finance Bill 2024.
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