- Plans are that the protests will take place in most parts of the country as Parliament votes on the Bill.
- But Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said they are ready to handle the demos opposed to the proposed taxes.
A showdown looms between protesters and security agencies as the third round of anti-Finance Bill 2024 demonstrations takes place on Tuesday.
Already, protesters armed with water and smartphones are regrouping in Nairobi CBD with a contingent of police
Red-beret elite Reece squad of GSU with dozens of armoured police tankers were Tuesday morning parked outside State House, Nairobi main Gate A - ahead of the demos.
Plans are that the protests will take place in most parts of the country as Parliament votes on the Bill.
This may stretch police capacity.
But interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said they are ready to handle the demos opposed to the proposed taxes.
Security was increased around Parliament and State House in Nairobi.
Nairobi will be the main place of concern for security bosses.
There was also heavy police presence in the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD), the expected epicentre of the youth-led protests.
The security officers have been deployed on various streets in the city centre with access to areas leading to Parliament being sealed off to the public.
President William Ruto had said the previous protests were peaceful.
By 9 am, there were a handful of protests along several streets in Nairobi with police dispersing them.
Kindiki said Monday that those who wish to demonstrate can go ahead with their plans as long as they adhere to the rule of law.
"The government of Kenya will respect, uphold, promote and fulfil the inalienable constitutional right of every person peaceably and unarmed to assemble, to demonstrate, to picket and to present petitions to authorities," said Kindiki.
Kindiki told protesters to breach peace saying protesters "must not interfere with road, rail, sea or air transport in any manner whatsoever".
This came as those believed to be most vocal about the protests were being abducted, causing public uproar as many Kenyans demanded their immediate release.
Two youths died in last week's protests and many were left injured.
The mainly Gen-Z-led demonstrations have taken the government by surprise, with Ruto saying over the weekend that he was ready to speak with the protesters.
Discontent over the already high cost of living spiralled into nationwide rallies last week, sparked by the Ruto administration's proposed tax hikes in the annual finance bill, which parliament must vote on by June 30.
Protest organisers called for the police to be held accountable and reiterated their demands for the finance bill to be scrapped in its entirety.
Several organisations, including Amnesty International Kenya, said at least 200 people were wounded in the protests in Nairobi.
"The country stands at a crossroads," Amnesty's Kenya chapter said in a statement Monday.
"Despite mass arrests and injuries, the protests have continued to grow, emphasising the public's widespread discontent."
Amnesty added that the movement leaves the government and police at a "critical juncture, where the escalation of force could lead to more fatalities and legal repercussions".