Police in Nairobi’s Central Business District engaged and dispersed protesters chanting against the finance bill.
Several shops remained shut as various groups walked around the Central Business District, chanting anti-finance bill slogans.
Most protesters arrived at the Kenya National Archives and various locations as early as 7 am to express their dissatisfaction with the Finance Bill 2024 when pandemonium struck.
Protesters hurled back water cans and filmed as police fired tear gas canisters to disperse them. There were concerns that some protesters might have been arrested. Civil liberties groups and associations of content creators also expressed fears that the internet may be shut down and media gagged which could further escalate tensions.
In a joint statement signed by 27 organisations, the government was warned against using such an approach to infringe on citizens’ rights to organise, demonstrate, and participate in policymaking.