Business activities have been paralyzed in Homa Bay town as police engaged the anti-Finance Bill 2024 protestors for the better part of Thursday.
The nagging youths engaged the security officers in a cat-and-mouse battle with some saying they were overwhelmed by the hard economic situation in the country.
They argued that despite the Wednesday withdrawal of the Finance Bill by President William Ruto, many Kenyans are still feeling the pinch of the hard economic situation.
They started demonstrating around 10 am, a situation which led to the closure of business premises in the town.
The central business district (CBD) remained deserted as police strived to keep protesters at bay.
Some youths were seen throwing stones as the police strived to repulse them by firing in the air and tear gas.
No injury has since been reported. The youth also blocked roads in the town and paralysed transport services between Homa Bay-Kisumu and Homa Bay-Rongo roads.
This comes as the civil society group in Homa Bay called on the police not to use excessive force on protestors.
Homa Bay civil society network secretary Leon Achieng and members Helen Ouma and Rodgers Omollo said they expect the protestors to remain peaceful and unarmed.
They urged both police and the youth who are demonstrating to avoid physical confrontations which can lead to injuries or loss of lives.
Achieng said they do not want a situation where there will be gross violations of the law and human rights standards.
“We do not want cases of injuries and loss of lives to occur after protests. We call for tolerance during the demonstration,” Achieng said.
Homa Bay County Bunge La Wenye Nchi head Walter Opiyo said there is a need for tolerance during the demonstration.
He said people expressing their dissatisfaction with the hard economic policies should be allowed to do so and protected.
“Peaceful demonstration is a constitutional right hence there should be tolerance from both police and protestors,” Opiyo said.
