Organisers of Tuesday’s protests against the Finance Bill, 2024 have demanded that the government release all demonstrators who were arrested unconditionally.
The leaders of the Concerned Citizens Movement said those who were arrested were simply expressing their constitutional and democratic rights.
“We commend the Concerned Citizens for how they conducted themselves during the peaceful protest even though 335 of them were arrested for holding constitutionally protected peaceful protests,” a statement by Prof Fred Ogola and Dr Joseph Mugachia said.
The group further demanded that the Finance Bill, 2023, which has already been tabled in the National Assembly, be withdrawn in totality.
“It is unnecessary because more than a third of the proposed Sh3.99 trillion will go to budgeted corruption,” they claimed.
Ogola and Mugachia said the government must respect the Constitution by allowing Concerned Citizens to exercise their sovereignty and right to peaceful protests.
“The Inspector General of Police and all police commanders must ensure officers live up to their mandate by protecting peaceful protesters but not using unnecessary force. They must not use live ammunition or spark violence,” the two added.
They said Concerned Citizens will continue to exercise their constitutional rights peacefully until their demands are met by the government.
The lobby said the Kenya Kwanza administration has killed Kenyan's hope of the brighter future they promised through the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda
It said the Finance Act, of 2023 is currently ruining the Kenyan economy adding that it was passed against the wishes of Kenyans.
“That is why there is anger and street demonstrations against the Finance Bill 2024 because Kenyans don't trust that Parliament will do their duty by rejecting the proposed tax measures,” the lobby added.
Ogola and Mugachia accused Parliament of becoming part of the problem in Kenya saying it had failed to act on reports of the Auditor General and ensuring the Executive serves Kenyans.