Despite the ongoing rains in Mombasa, hundreds of protestors converged in the streets of Mombasa to demonstrate against the Finance Bill 2024.
There has been an ongoing mobilization through social media networks for Mombasa residents to come out in large numbers.
Police have already been deployed in the streets of Mombasa.
The famous Mapembeni area, which was supposed to be the central meeting point has been cordoned off by the police.
A video seen by the Star on Wednesday showed residents singing and chanting in the Mombasa Central Business District (CBD).
The protests went on amid rains and with police presence.
The residents who are also seen carrying placards are heard singing the song Utawala by hip hop artist Juliani.
"Sita simama maovu ya kitawala. Ufisadi ubinafsi ukabila, kuuza sura hawataki kuuza sera, undugu ni kufaana sita simama maovu ya kitawala," the demonstrating residents are heard singing.
The anti-Finance Bill demos for Mombasa were scheduled for June 19 (today).
Others are scheduled for June 20 in Kisumu and Laikipia among other places.
#OccupyMombasa anti finance bill 2024 protests underway in Mombasa. pic.twitter.com/2sArPrGbFY
— Kevin Mutai (@kevinmutai_) June 19, 2024
The fresh demos are being done under the hashtag #OccupyMombasa.
On Tuesday, thousands of Nairobi residents took to the streets to demonstrate against ‘punitive’ tax proposals in the Finance Bill, 2024.
Days before Tuesday’s protests, youths made a rallying call on social media using the hashtag #OccupyParliament urging Kenyans to turn up in numbers for the protests.
News that the government had made concessions and dropped some of the contentious clauses in the Bill did little to dampen their spirits as some termed the move a smoke screen.
They said the removal of the proposed 16 per cent VAT on things like bread while increasing taxes on other equally basic imported commodities was typical of a government that wants to give with one hand and take with the other.
The government said it had listened to Kenyans and dropped the proposed VAT on bread, transportation of sugar, financial services and foreign exchange transactions, Excise duty on vegetable oil and 2.5 per cent Motor Vehicle Tax has was dropped.
Debate on the Finance Bill is set to begin on Wednesday and will proceed through Thursday when a special sitting has been called. It was formally tabled on Tuesday.