IG Koome's Warning To Protesters As They Turn Attention To State House

Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome has warned Kenyans protesting against the Finance Bill 2024 against trying to occupy government infrastructure including Parliament Buildings and now, State House.

In a statement on Thursday, June 20, the IG warned that the National Police Service (NPS) would not allow the protesters to 'occupy' government infrastructure and disrupt normal proceedings.

"The National Police Service is cognizant of the current demonstrations going on across the Country today June 20, 2024, and the ongoing debate at the National Assembly regarding Finance Bill, 2024.

"With utmost respect to the provisions of Article 37 of the Constitution stipulating the right of citizens to assemble, demonstrate and picket, the Service will neither condone nor approve efforts by demonstrators to either occupy critical government infrastructure including Parliament Buildings, or disrupt the ongoing Parliamentary proceedings," stated the IG in part.

Protesters marching towards State House on June 20, 2024. /VIRAL TEA KE

Koome reiterated that the NPS would stand by its commitment to maintain law and order; and protect life and property.

His statement comes after irate Kenyans took to the streets on Thursday to demonstrate over the Finance Bill 2024, which sailed through the Second Reading.

As of the time of publishing this article, the 'Gen Z' protesters went as far as approaching Gate A of State House, in a shift in terms of attention, having encountered police resistance while trying to reach the gates of Parliament.

It is reported that the Gate A entrance has been surrounded by hundreds of youths, with officers from the General Service Unit (GSU) dispatched to the area to quell the tensions.

Meanwhile, police who were on high alert quickly intervened to protect the parliamentarians from the wrath of demonstrators who demanded the withdrawal of the controversial Finance Bill 2024.

During the demonstrations on Thursday, June 20, police officers engaged in running battles with the protesters in Nairobi with tear gas canisters pelted at those demonstrating.

The protesters, who came out in large numbers could be spotted holding huge placards as they protested the tax measures introduced by the government through the bill.

This was a culmination of online protests, with the overriding message of rejecting the Finance Bill, which was carried under the #RejectFinanceBill2024 hashtag, being to reject the bill in totality. This hashtag crossed over a million mentions on X.

The world was drawn to the struggles of the Kenyan youth and the #RejectFinanceBill2024 went viral in 10 other countries, including the United States, Canada, Qatar, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Australia, Ethiopia and South Sudan.

Widespread efforts to get lawmakers to shoot down the bill hit the rocks as it received a majority backing in the August House, with 204 lawmakers voting in favour of the contentious Bill and 115 voting against it, and zero abstentions.