UDA offices in Homa Bay looted by protesters in Finance Bill demo

A section of UDA offices in Homa Bay town has been charred after angry youths set it ablaze during anti-Finance Bill 2024 protests.

The protesters are reported to have entered the offices after they pulled down and disappeared with the gate during the protests.

President William Ruto who is the UDA party leader opened the offices last year when he was on a development tour of Homa Bay.

The offices are situated in the Arujo area in Arujo ward, Homa Bay town.

Anti-Finance Bill 2024 protesters reportedly invaded the offices and set it on fire to show their dissatisfaction with the Kenya Kwanza administration which they accused of increasing taxes on important commodities.

Youthful protesters known as Generation-Z( GenZ-s) are taking the lead in the demonstrations in major towns across the country.

During the protests, the youths broke into the offices took away two desktop computers and vandalized CCTV cameras.

Homa Bay County UDA party chairman Kennedy Obuya confirmed the incident saying protesters took away chairs before some set fire to the offices.

Police officers arrived at the scene before the fire spread. Some youths reached the place and put out the fire.

“UDA party supporters converged faster and extinguished the fires before they spread to larger areas. We condemn the hooliganism act and it shouldn’t be repeated,” Obuya said.

Speaking after the incident, the UDA official claimed that the youths were politically motivated and distanced the act from the ongoing protests.

He argued that Gen Z had promised to conduct a peaceful demonstration without destruction in Homa Bay.

Obuya said they are ready to face ODM in the 2027 elections because UDA has gained roots in Homa Bay.

“The attackers are youths who are allied to the ODM party who are hiding behind the anti-Finance Bill protests led by Gen Z.  UDA has become popular in Homa Bay and that’s why some people with ill motives want to destroy its property,” he said.