Multi-agency teams have been holding meetings to plan how they will handle a planned protest outside Parliament in Nairobi to oppose the Finance Bill, 2024.
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 to be 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 have been meeting at police headquarters and Nairobi Area police command separately.
A final meeting was planned on Monday to know the way forward amid plans to block some roads near Parliament.
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.
But one of the organisers Boniface Mwangi denied the claims saying their protest will be peaceful to pass a message to the legislators.
“We have marshals who will guide the group. Police should have called us to plan together on how we will conduct the business because this issue will also affect them,” he said.
Nairobi police commander Adamson Bungei said they do not know what the group wants and that they fear they will disrupt businesses.
“We are aware and are planning how to handle the situation,” he said.
A recent survey conducted by Infotrak indicated that an overwhelming 87 percent of Kenyans are opposed to the revenue mobilisation measures proposed in the Bill.
Some of the disgruntled Kenyans are now mobilising themselves on social media under the hashtag 'Reject Finance Bill' to raise awareness and marshal sufficient support to ensure they show up in their numbers to occupy Parliament on D-day.
Mwangi is leading in the mobilization ahead of Tuesday afternoon.
“Citizens, rise against over taxation. Reject Finance Bill 2024,” reads a poster circulating on X.
The National Assembly’s Finance Committee retreated on Wednesday to write a report on the Bill ahead of its expected tabling in Parliament Tuesday.
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 2.30pm. 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 a number of tax measures government wants to pursue to raise Sh2.92 trillion locally.
The issue has divided some legislators amid pressure from the public on them to reject the Bill.
The Opposition ODM has on its part marshaled its troops in the House and directed MPs to cancel all engagements that will require them to travel outside Nairobi on the day of debate.
In a letter to all MPs, Secretary General Edwin Sifuna said the party’s Central Committee directed him to write to the lawmakers to ask them to be in the House during tabling and voting on the Finance Bill.
“You are further requested to suspend any other engagements that would otherwise see you out of Nairobi during this critical period,” the letter reads in part.
Sifuna said any MP who will have compelling reasons to be out of the country during the period is required to inform the party in advance.