A showdown looms Tuesday, June 18 after police declared they will not allow a planned protest to oppose the Finance Bill 2024.
The organisers of the protest dubbed 'Occupy Parliament' said they are ready for the peaceful march and that they had met all the requirements.
Nairobi Regional Police Commander Adamson Bungei dismissed any plan to organise protests in Nairobi saying it was illegal.
Bungei said that no one applied for a gathering or picketing permit as expected. He said the protest was illegal and banned.
Bungei said they received a 'faulty' document dated June last year, which doesn't meet the protest permission threshold.
“The notification they left at Central is dated June 17, 2023. It is faulty. We can't allow them. No demonstration.”
“Kenyans should be allowed to do their business and those with grievances should direct them where they know well.”
He added they have mobilized officers to ensure that any gathering is dispersed instantly.
This comes as activists led by Boniface Mwangi have already issued an elaborate plan for the protest dubbed 'Occupy Parliament' against the Finance Bill 2024.
Police have already warned of possible disruption of traffic flow on some roads near the Parliament Building on Tuesday, June 18.
This will be part of efforts to contain the planned protest outside Parliament in Nairobi to oppose the Finance Bill, 2024.
More anti-riot teams were mobilized in readiness for the deployment to start from mid-day, police said.
Police aware of the situation said they had been ordered to ensure they “diffuse” the protest from the start.
A multi-agency team had been holding meetings to plan how they would handle the protest.
The protest dubbed Occupy Parliament is planned for Tuesday, June 18 when the Bill is expected to be tabled in the House.
The voting on the Bill is expected on Thursday, June 20.
After the organisers notified the authorities of the plans to hold the protest, top police commanders have been meeting separately to discuss the way forward.
The teams had been meeting at police headquarters and Nairobi Area police command separately.
There are fears the protesters may block the Members of Parliament from accessing the House, police said adding there will be deployment of anti-riot teams.
Mwangi denied the claims saying their protest would be peaceful to pass a message to the legislators.
Aware that police will be deployed to disperse the gathering, the organisers of the protest have advised those who will answer their call and show up to come prepared for the worst.
“Carry placard, handkerchief and bottle of water,” the poster reads.
Protesters often arm themselves with bottles of water and handkerchiefs in anticipation should teargas be lobbed at them.
The organizers of the peaceful protest say people should start gathering from 12pm.
“We shall gather to keep vigil as members of Parliament vote at 2.30 pm. IG Koome to provide police to protect us as he respects Article 37 of the Constitution: The right to protest and picket.”
While unveiling the Sh3.92 trillion 2024-25 Budget estimates in Parliament on Thursday, Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u outlined several tax measures the government wants to pursue to raise Sh2.92 trillion locally.