By Antynet Ford
A contingent of heavily armed antiriot police officers have been deployed in various parts of the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) ahead of the youth-led demonstrations dubbed ‘total shutdown’.
A spot check by the corporate watch indicates security officers have been deployed on various streets in the city centre with access to areas leading to Parliament being sealed off to the public.
The protests are not only expected in Nairobi but countrywide across various cities and towns as the youth protest against the controversial Finance Bill 2024 is set to take place today.
Protesters have vowed to bring business in the capital to a total shutdown today.
The government tried to cede ground but the protesters said they want the entire Bill dropped and not merely edited.
Two people have been reported killed since the start of the protests last week.
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The youth-led demonstrations commenced last week in objection to the unsavory Bill which proposes heavy taxes for Kenyans.
This comes after the government yesterday Monday warned Kenyans who are planning to protest on Tuesday against any form of violence and destruction of property.
The Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, while acknowledging that every Kenyan has a right to demonstrate or picket, insisted that protestors must not infringe on the rights and freedoms of others.
“The government of Kenya will respect, uphold, promote and fulfill the inalienable constitutional right of every person peaceably and unarmed to assemble, to demonstrate, to picket and to present petitions to authorities.” Kindiki said.
The CS dared protesters to breach peace saying protesters “must not interfere with road, rail, sea or air transport in any manner whatsoever.”
The latter however comes those believed to be most vocal about the protests are being abducted, causing public uproar as many Kenyans demand for their immediate release.