It all began when Kamau, in front of national television (TV) cameras, burst out of the blue rushing towards the podium before police officers bundled him away.
Julius Kamau Kimani, the man who went viral on Thursday, June 13 attempting to interrupt a photo session of Treasury Cabinet Secretary Professor Njuguna Ndung’u at the National Assembly, went on a stinging rant while appearing at the Milimani Law Courts.
It all began when Kamau, in front of national television (TV) cameras, burst out of the blue rushing towards the podium before police officers bundled him away.
Before the Magistrate on Friday, June 14, he did not mince his words and ignored his lawyer’s instructions to adhere to court protocols by speaking only when appropriate.
Kamau boldly accused the government of what he claimed was neglecting the plight of Kenyans from all walks of life regarding the introduction of more punitive taxes. He also told off Kenyans for failing to look out for their own.
“Poor people are suffering and nobody cares so I don’t know what the role of the government is. I think the government has failed our people and we have also failed ourselves. My concerns will not allow me to keep silent,” Kamau said.
Here is the video:
The man claimed that Kenyans were living in a period of fear, which he believed the government was taking advantage of by imposing punitive tax measures.
“I don’t know whether this is going to come up anywhere but we must have this conversation. We cannot continue living in fear; I see a lot of fear in this country and a lot of fear in the courts.”
“Just yesterday, we saw a magistrate who was shot by a police officer. I want to speak but you want me to remain silent when my heart is burning because of taxes. For 60 years we have been living like we are not human beings,” said Kamau.
The man claimed Kenyans are considered children of a lesser God by the ruling minority that does not care for the majority, adding that they are victims of lies, failed promises and false hopes.
The judge subsequently warned Kimani that he would be held in contempt of court but that did little to stop his passionate rant.
“I don’t know whether you are going to sentence me; I’m ready to be sentenced to 100 years but I’ll keep speaking the truth until I leave this world. We cannot continue living like this; we must resist!” he dared.
Kamau together with Erick Mankuyu Seyielel were charged with creating disturbance in a manner likely to cause breach of peace.
“On the 13th day of June 2024 at Treasury Building along Harambee Avenue in Nairobi CBD within Nairobi County jointly with others not before court created disturbance in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace by yelling, shouting and attempting to disrupt the photo shooting session by the Cabinet Secretary National Treasury and Economic Planning and his delegates,” read the charge sheet.
Kamau’s incident reflects the anger of Kenyans online who have ganged up under the #RejectFinanceBill2024 to express their dissatisfaction with the new proposal, going to the extent of reaching Members of Parliament through phone calls and messages, asking them to reject the Finance Bill 2024 as a whole because its proposals are oppressive.
However, Kamau is not a new feature in the national limelight as he has been arrested more than once at public events for his activism.
He made headlines in June 2022 when he stormed the meeting between the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and presidential candidates at the Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club in Nairobi, as former IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati was taking questions from former Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition’s presidential running mate, Martha Karua.
The protester carrying a banner demanded an audience with Chebukati before he was quickly whisked away by security officers.
Activist Julius Kamau is whisked away when he tried to interrupt a past event. /CYPRIAN NYAKUNDI
In another incident, the activist was arrested after he chained himself to a post during protests in the Nairobi Central Business District where he accused the government of being inefficient, turning a blind eye to the needs of the electorate, and causing poverty, which he described as modern-day slavery.
“People are suffering. People are dying. How do you address this? How is the government addressing this? The government has become so inefficient,” Kamau complained.
Kamau is a hawker of secondhand clothes and shoes in the Nairobi Central Business District and an active citizen.