By Antynet Ford
Kenyans on social media are protesting the increased police abduction of activists and protesters who have been vocal against the unpopular Finance Bill 2024.
Key figures in the youth-led peaceful protests have been arrested and their whereabouts remained unknown ahead of Tuesday’s nationwide demonstrations against the proposed tax increase in the 2024 Finance bill.
They include Gabriel Oguda, a popular social commentator and vocal critic of President William Ruto’s government, whom reports say was abducted in the wee hours , Osama Otero, Franje, Drey Mwangi and activist Shadrack Kiprono alias Shad Khalif.
Gabriel’s brother Zachary Oguda posted online that the newspaper columnist was whisked away from his house by men believed to be police officers.
“Any tweets coming from Gabriel Oguda were already scheduled. HE ISN’T SAFE,” Zachary sated on his socials.
Khalif, who was abducted on Saturday night in Nairobi’s South B area and his whereabouts remain unclear.
In their statement of Tuesday, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK condemned the abductions as a return to darkness.
LSK President Faith Odhiambo vowed that the lawyers’ body will bring those orchestrating the abductions to book.
“Over the last 72 hours, Kenya has been drawn back to the dark era of a rogue, irrational police force operating through repressive, retrogressive, clandestine, illegal, extra-judicial tactics to forcefully quell public dissent against misgivings of government, lapses in governance and more specifically, the contentious Finance Bill 2024.” She said.
She vowed that the lawyers body would unmask the people behind the abductions and bring them to record.
LSK has called for the unconditional and immediate release of the abductees.
“We will unmask and take action against these rogue criminal elements putting our police in ruin.” She added.
Other Protesters including Austin Omondi alias Ja Prado were released before today after an uproar by the public.
The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) on Monday also condemned the abductions and called for an immediate cessation of this trend.
“The abductions, often occurring at night and carried out by police officers in plain clothes and unmarked vehicles, aim to intimidate protesters planning to participate in future peaceful demonstrations urging MPs to reject the bill.” They said in their statement.
A nationwide strike dubbed #TotalShutdownKE is on Tuesday took place across all counties, especially in Nairobi’s central business district, to pressure parliamentarians to shoot down the bill this week.
The bill passed its Second Reading in the House last Tuesday after 204 MPs voted yes to the bill while 115 voted no.
It enters the Committee Stage this week.
Read also:- Properties of Political Leaders Supporting Finance Bill Vandalized During Protests
