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Live Updates: Police, protesters clash in anti-Finance Bill demo

Several protesters have since been arrested for taking part in the protest

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by Tabnacha Odeny

News18 June 2024 - 09:52

In Summary


  • The streets of Nairobi especially along Kimathi Street was the centre of the action as police lobed teargas to disperse the protesters who kept emerging and making pockets of resistance in the city.
Protester shield herself from teargas during the ongoing OccupyParliament protest in Nairobi CBD on June 18, 2024.

3:04 pm: Woman prays in CBD.

A woman is seen kneeling in Nairobi CBD and praying for calm as other protesters chant "Down down Finance Bill."

"Oh, my father come and save this nation for generations. I command the power of God to reach Ruto and drop all strongholds of the devil," she prayed.

2:40: Protesters in CBD

Occupy Parliament protesters have re-emerged along Kenyatta Avenue chanting the famous Utawala song by Juliani "Sita simama maovu yakitawala."

2:30: MP arrive in Parliament

The lawmakers can be seen streaming into the National Assembly as Speaker Moses Wetangula takes his seat. The session will be underway shortly.

2:20 pm: We are giving police 24 hours to release protesters - Babu Owino

"I condemn the mass arrest of protesters. We demand the immediate release of the people who have been arrested. We are giving police 24 hours to release these protesters without charge or we will move to court," Babu said.

1:59 pm: No way to Parliament for protesters

Police have managed to keep off protesters who have been trying to reach Parliament to push MPs to drop the whole Finance Bill 2024. The protesters are seen trying to access Parliament Buildings through different routes but the police have managed to keep them off at every interval.

Police have blocked Parliament Road, Harambee Road, City Hall Way and attempts by protesters to use Kenyatta Avenue through Intercontinental have hit a brick wall.

1:44 pm: We will still stand with Kenyans to oppose the Finance Bill, says Matungulu MP Stephen Mule.

"Laws are made in this Parliament, not State House. We will still stand with Kenyans to oppose more controversial sections of the Finance Bill that Kenya Kwanza PG has not dropped," said the MP. 

1:31 pm: Chairman, Finance and National Planning Committee, National Assembly MP Kimani Kuria expected to present his report on the Finance Bill in Parliament from around 2:30 pm.

The security agencies have been ensuring security is maintained at the Parliament Building. Some of the officers seen in the area are from the GSU, AP, Anti-Terro Police Unit and detectives from the DCI.

Protesters have not managed to reach Parliament Buildings as police continue to maintain security at the August House.

1:22 pm: The situation in the Nairobi CBD is getting uglier with teargas lobbed to disperse protesters. The police are also arresting anyone wearing black because the dress code for the protesters was black attire.

Some journalists have also been affected and about 10 people can be seen being bungled into a police lorry.

1:18 pm: LSK condemns police for disrupting finance bill protests  

Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has demanded that Nairobi region police commander Adamson Bungei call off his directive to his officers to engage protesters in the OccupyParliament demo.

In a statement released on Tuesday, LSK demanded that Bungei order his officers to stand down from making any arbitrary arrest or meting violence against the protestors.

"We urge you to reconsider your positioning noting that your actions which will be essentially unlawful, may result in violence against innocent citizens by the police and which actions may result in violent attacks and injuries that can be avoided," the statement reads.

1:15 pm: More drama as police lob teargas to protesters chanting "Ruto must go" near the International House in Nairobi CBD.

Some protesters have been spotted chanting “Ruto must go!” as lawmakers arrive in Parliament for the tabling of the Finance Bill 2024.

Protesters near the Kencom bus stage were spotted advising each other to walk in groups to avoid being teargas.

Some journalists also faced the police asking them not to teargas them as they documented the events of the day.

"Wacheni kutuharass. Why are we now the target,"  some of the journalists were heard saying.

Kenyans in Nairobi on Tuesday engaged in cat-and-mouse games with the police in their protest against the proposed Finance Bill 2024.

The streets of Nairobi especially along Kimathi Street was the centre of the action as police lobed teargas to disperse the protesters who kept emerging and making pockets of resistance in the city.

Several protesters have since been arrested for taking part in the protest which the police have declared illegal.


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