Several kenyans in Nairobi have been arrested in connection with the planned Occupy Parliament protests aimed at pushing members of parliament to reject the Finance Bill 2024.
According to reports, police officers in plain clothes are making several arrests against kenyans who are planning the protests and others who are making assemblies within the Nairobi CBD.
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This comes after Nairobi Region Police Commander Adamson Bungei dismissed any plan to organise protests in Nairobi saying it was illegal and any kenyan participating in it will be arrested.
According to Bungei, no one applied for a gathering or picketing permit as expected. He said the protest was illegal and banned. The police boss added that he received a ‘faulty’ document dated June last year, which doesn’t meet the protest permission threshold.
“The notification they left at Central is dated June 17, 2023. It is faulty. We can’t allow them. No demonstration. Kenyans should be allowed to do their business and those with grievances should direct them where they know well.”
However, despite the statement of warning by the police boss, protesters have vowed to go ahead with their planned demonstrations insisting that their demonstration is peaceful and as required by the law.
One of the activist, Hanifa who was behind rallying people to come out in large numbers is also said to have been arrested and whisked away in a police van and her location is unknown.
Explaining reasons for the Anti-Riot police officers in the streets in Nairobi, the police boss said that there is fear that the protesters may block the Members of Parliament from accessing the House for the tabling of the bill.