President's allies under siege as angry protesters turn on them

President William Ruto’s close allies now stare at a bleak political future amid safety concerns as anti-tax protesters turned against them with rage.

The irate demonstrators, mainly youth, stormed the homes, offices and business premises of the MPs who voted for the controversial Finance Bill, 2024 on Tuesday. 

The move has pitted them against their electorate, who have been agitating against the bill that imposes ‘punitive’ tax measures.

“Kenyans had faith in these leaders when they were elected. What is happening now is fragmentation in governance that will not be good for them,” Mt Kenya-based political analyst Andrew Maringa said.

The lawmakers found themselves in an even tougher political situation after the President made a U-turn and announced withdrawal of the bill.

Ruto sent the bill back to Parliament, a day after the MPs passed it amid fierce protests in several towns around the country.

Previously, the legislators had been attacked – booed and jeered – in forums, with some whisked away from the public that bayed for their blood.

They include vocal National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wa, Finance committee chairman Kuria Kimani and MPs Oscar Sudi (Kapseret) and John Kiarie (Dagoretti South).

Sources say some of the lawmakers have opted to avoid their constituencies for fear of being attacked.

Since the unprecedented attack on Parliament, the usually vocal MPs have remained tight-lipped, with not even a comment on their usually busy social media pages. 

The outrage from the very people who elected them signals a political quagmire for the lawmakers.

Their political influence is likely to suffer, a situation that would jeopardise their reelection bid and future political ambitions.

On Tuesday, a mob stormed the home of Kimani in Molo and smashed windows.

The angry demonstrators pulled down the perimeter wall, burnt and destroyed cars, as others looted valuables from the home.

Some walked away with livestock.

The Molo MP chairs the Finance committee that considered the bill, amid protests.

In Kikuyu, demonstrators torched the Constituency Development Fund office built by Ichung’wah. They also burnt cars parked in the compound.

Ichung’wah is Ruto’s close ally and point man in Parliament. The Kikuyu MP has strongly supported the bill and denounced the protests

He said the bill is for the good of the country and will help create jobs for the youth.

The situation was the same in Eldoret where protesters stormed, vandalised and looted a nightclub associated with Sudi.

Club Timba XO is located along the Eldoret-Nairobi Road.

The club was officially opened a few weeks ago during a ceremony attended by Sudi and several other MPs.

Sudi is Ruto’s self-proclaimed ‘political engineer’ who has been splurging millions of shillings in fundraisers.

“What transpired on Tuesday, which followed an otherwise peaceful protest by Gen-Z, is unfortunate. The magnitude of the loss of lives, looting and property destruction that happened is appalling, and it negates the spirit of our constitution,” Sudi posted on X on Wednesday.

The protestors marched from Eldoret CBD to the club where they stormed and destroyed glass walls, windows and doors.

Police arrived as some of the protesters gained entry into the club and took off with several items.

The youth also set ablaze seven cars belonging to Uasin Gishu county, a court and a library.

In Nyeri, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s backyard, protesters marched into a supermarket belonging to Kieni MP Njoroge Wainaina.

The locals, apparently angered by the MP’s position on the bill, looted valuables, including food and electronics.

They burnt down the supermarket's branches in Laikipia and Narumoru towns.

Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi’s business in Karatina was vandalised.

Senator John Kinyua’s office in Nanyuki town was burnt down by an angry crowd in Laikipia, which invaded the county assembly and vandalised offices. 

In Naivasha, demonstrators burnt down Epco Hotel where the office of area MP Jayne Kihara is located.

An ablution block constructed by the Kirinyaga Central CDF funds at Jeevanjee Garden in Kerugoya was vandalised.

Protesters burnt down a billboard bearing Ndia MP George Kariuki’s image.

Demonstrators also left a trail of destruction at the offices of the Kenya Revenue Authority and National Hospital Insurance Fund in the late evening incident.

Last week, MP Kiarie was reportedly chased away from a burial in Dagoretti South for supporting the Finance Bill.

He had talked tough against the protesters, claiming that some of the photos they circulated on social media were doctored.

Amid fierce criticism, the MP swiftly apologised to the protesters terming his previous utterances uncalled for.

The same fate befell Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa when he sought to justify his decision to vote in favour of the bill.