Letter allowing Thursday Finance Bill demos is fake – Police

Police have dismissed as fake a letter purporting to give the green light to protests planned for Thursday.

Authors of the fake letter had claimed Inspector General of Police had authorised on Parliament Road from noon to 5 pm whilst maintaining peace and order.   

Organisers of Tuesday’s Occupy Parliament protests have called for countrywide demonstrations Thursday to continue piling pressure on MPs to shoot down the Finance Bill, 2024.

The government is looking to collect Sh346 billion through the Bill, Finance Committee chairman Kimani Kuria told Parliament on Wednesday as the debate got underway.

The Bill moved to the second reading stage on Wednesday with Kuria informing the House committee dropped some contentious clauses.

They include proposed VAT on bread, Eco levy on locally manufactured goods such as diapers, an increase of mobile and international money transfer charges and the 2.5 motor vehicle tax.

There was little incident during Tuesday’s protests as no looting, destruction of property or serious injury was reported save for a secluded incident where an officer lost his forearms and his colleague was injured after a teargas canister exploded on them.

The court on Wednesday released five protesters including activist Boniface Mwangi for lack of sufficient evidence.

Acting assistant DPP Dorcas Rugut said there was no evidence the suspects were part of unlawful assembly or breached peace by creating a disturbance.

“We have also noted from the OB that five suspects were arrested an placed in cells but only three names appear on the draft charge sheet. The statements in the file refer to only three suspects begging the question of what happened to the other suspects,” she said.

Speaking after their release, Mwangi said they will not be intimidated into silence and confirmed that they will be back on the streets on Thursday.

“Nobody owns you unless you allow them to own you. No one can ride your back unless you bend it and as Kenyans, we are not going to bend our backs.

“Tomorrow Kenyans across this country are going to the streets, I can guarantee you we shall be on the streets. We have been released without any charges,” He said.  

Mwangi and a group of about five other protesters were arrested outside Parliament buildings where they had chained themselves to a cart.

They were bundled into a police vehicle and driven to Kamukunji police station where they were locked up.

“We are going to Central Police Station to take our mkokoteni (hand cart). So tomorrow come with your handcarts, wheelbarrows, the sanitary pads they want to tax, sufuria, cups…tomorrow be colourful and defiant,” Mwangi said outside Milimani Law Courts after their release.

He said Kenyans have a right to peacefully protest without being prevented by police to do so.

His sentiments were echoed by Kirinyaga Governor and CoG chair Anne Waiguru who urged police to exercise restraint.

“I understand fellow Kenyans will be back out tomorrow. I therefore humbly urge law enforcement agencies to show restraint from the use of excessive force on peaceful demonstrators,” CoG chairperson Anne Waiguru said.

“Meanwhile, we are listening. Thank you for your courage and honesty. This is what makes Kenya great.”