The next round of demonstrations is expected to be intensified following the shooting of 29-year-old Rex Kanyike Masai on Thursday evening
With the Finance Bill 2024 proceeding to the Committee Stage, Kenyans are preparing for another round of peaceful protests in a bid to stop the Bill from ultimately being assented to by President William Ruto and becoming an Act.
Human rights activist, Boniface Mwangi on Friday, June 21 released a seven-day schedule with activities mostly in reaction to a majority of Members of Parliament who sailed the Finance Bill through the Second Reading on Thursday.
The next round of demonstrations is expected to be intensified following the shooting of 29-year-old Rex Kanyike Masai on Thursday evening in Nairobi City’s Central Business District (CBD).
“Despite our collective cry rejecting Finance Bill 2024, Parliament gave Zakayo (Ruto) the right to do wrong to 54 million Kenyans. We reject the Finance Bill in its entirety.
A bird’s eye view of Parliament as of June 6, 2024. /PARLIAMENT OF KENYA
“And despite our peaceful protests, police have responded with bullets, killing two of our own, maiming many others and one person is in critical condition. We refuse to be silenced, so we’re marching on,” stated Mwangi on X.
Viral Tea takes a look at the day-by-day activities starting with Friday:
Day 1. Friday, June 21
Following a visit to the City Mortuary where the body of Rex was taken and where a postmortem examination is set to take place, Juma prayers will be held at Jamia Mosque and water distributed to those leaving after the prayers.
Salatul-Jumu’ah or Friday Prayer is offered in congregation and offered in place of Zuhr Prayer. Each week on Friday, Muslims are required to take a bath, dress in their best clean clothes, wear perfume and assemble in the mosque for Friday Prayer.
Jamia Mosque won hearts for opening its doors to Kenyans injured during the protests and allowed doctors to attend to them inside the mosque.
Day 2. Saturday, June 22
At midnight, all bars and clubs where Gen Z frequent have been instructed to stop the music to listen to a national crescendo of ‘Ruto must go’, and ‘Reject the Finance Bill’, in opposition to the Kenya Kwanza regime and the punitive tax proposals in the Finance Bill.
Revellers with anti-President Ruto chants at a popular club along Thika Road#ViralVideos #RejectFinanceBill2024 pic.twitter.com/U8k8tWIjHK
— Viral Tea Ke (@ViralTeaKe) June 16, 2024
Day 3. Sunday, June 23Â
Kenyans were urged to deny political leaders a platform to speak during church services, especially those who voted in favour of the Finance Bill.
“Deplatform politicians in church. Don’t allow any politician who voted YES to speak in your church,” stated Mwangi.
Day 4. Monday, June 24
Kenyans will be expected to make a courtesy call on Members of Parliament who voted in favour of the Finance Bill, at the Constituency Office.
“Tell them: Endelea hivyo hivyo (keep it going just like that)! Boycott the businesses of these traitors. Ostracise them for betraying 54 million Kenyans,” the activist added.
It will be on this day that signatures are expected to be collected in a push to have those MPs recalled.
Day 5. Tuesday, June 25:
Fresh demonstrations are expected per #OccupyParliament and Total Shutdown Kenya, a national strike whereby “Gen Z are granting all hard-working Kenyans a day off. Parents keep your children at home in solidarity.”
Day 6. Wednesday, June 26
Visits are expected to be made to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) offices and the Inspector-General of Police demanding justice for the late Kanyike.
Day 7. Thursday, June 27
With the anticipation that the Finance Bill goes through the Committee Stage, paving the way for President Ruto to assent it into law, the June 27 protests are classified as the ‘mother of them all’, with expected marches to State House.
“Block main roads leading to Nairobi and #OccupyStateHouse to witness Ruto sign our lives into slavery,” Mwangi stated.Â
