Youths opposed to the Finance Bill 2024 in Nyeri have issued the Police with a notice on their intent to conduct a peaceful demo today
In a letter penned by Concerned Nyeri County Residents and copied to the Nyeri Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) Charles Chacha, the organizers want security agents to provide them with security and ensure there is adherence to the rule of law.
According to the one page letter signed by one Joan Wambui Alias Zuena,the protesters have also given their contacts in case the planned protests turn violent.
The protesters plan to begin their peaceful demo at the Whispers Park along Gakere road and March through the town before congregating again at the starting venue.
“As concerned youths and residents of Nyeri County, we would like to notify you that at 10:00 am Thursday, June 2024, we have invited all residents of Nyeri County to proceed on a peaceful march from Whispers Park, within Nyeri Town and back to Whispers Park, as provided under Article 37 of the Constitution of Kenya,”reads part of the letter.
“Our primary objective of the march is to join the nation in one voice of solidarity to demand that our elected members of Parliament from Nyeri County show up in Parliament and vote NO to the proposed Finance Bill 2024.We intend to conduct the march in a peaceful and orderly manner, adhering to all legal requirements and respecting public peace, order and property,” adds the letter which was received at the Nyeri County Police Commander early today.
The protests began on Tuesday in Nairobi where demonstrators (mostly youth) spent the better part of the day playing hide and seek games with anti-riot police leading to the arrest of hundreds of them.
By midday yesterday, tentacles of the curiously peaceful and organized demos had reared their heads in other counties including Mombasa, Kisii, Kisumu and Nakuru with more counties expected to join the movement from today.
And despite the Government’s decision on Tuesday that saw the deletion of some of the controversial clauses like the 16 per cent VAT on bread and 25 per cent tax on crude oil.
The proposed law is currently before the National Assembly awaiting voting.
On Tuesday President Dr William Ruto hosted the Kenya Kwanza Parliamentary group where a decision was reached on the need to drop the controversial 16 percent VAT on bread, financial services taxation as well as the 2.5 percent motor vehicle circulation tax.
Also exempted was a proposed excise duty of 25 percent on crude palm oil and finished cooking oil.
The ongoing protests are however demanding the withdrawal of the Bill in total.
Meanwhile, the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has condemned the recent arrest of journalists who were covering the protests in Nairobi on Tuesday.
In the letter written and signed by MCK CEO David Omwoyo the media regulatory agency expressed its dismay on alleged attacks on journalists covering the Nairobi protest on Tuesday calling it an affront on the rights of the press.
According to Omwoyo, Police had reneged on their roles and turned their truncheons on the very people they were supposed to cover and protect.
“The Council is dismayed that while journalists were relying on Police to provide them with security in the line of duty, the security officers resorted to manhandling, harassing, arresting and assaulting them. This is despite the fact that the journalists were well identified with MCK press badges and press jackets,”read the letter dated June 19 2024.
Among those are alleged to have been manhandled by Police include Joe Muhia,Iddi Ali Juma( both working for AP) , Nation Media Group video editor Justice Mwangi Macharia,his Taifa Leo reporter counterpart Sammy Kimatu and NTV’s reporter Maureen Mureithi. .Macharia,
Kimatu and Mureithi sustained bodily injuries and are said to have been rushed to hospital for treatment at one of the city’s hospitals.
By Samuel Maina
