Over 3,000 young people in Kitui joined their peers from across the country in a protest against the Finance Bill 2024 on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. The demonstrators, mostly dressed in black and wielding anti-government placards, converged in Kitui town from as early as 9 am to voice their discontent.
The protest was part of a larger nationwide movement seeking to challenge the proposed tax hikes and other contentious issues within the bill.
Throughout the day, the protesters marched through the streets of Kitui town. Their grievances extended beyond the Finance Bill to include broader issues of corruption and cronyism, which they accused the Kenya Kwanza administration of perpetuating.
The demonstrators argued that the current system disproportionately enriched those in power at the expense of ordinary citizens. Placards carried messages condemning the government’s failure to address their concerns and the apparent capture of Parliament by the Executive branch.
A significant point of contention for the protesters was what they perceived as the Executive’s disregard for their voices. They expressed frustration over what they saw as the lawmakers’ indifference to their plight.
The demonstrators highlighted their demand for genuine engagement from President William Ruto, who they claimed had not followed through on his promise to address their issues. The failure to withdraw the controversial Finance Bill was seen as a direct contradiction to his assurances.
In their words, all they wanted was a listening ear. Many felt betrayed by President Ruto’s lack of action despite his earlier statements of intent to engage with the youth and understand their problems.
As one protester succinctly put it, “the President had not backed his words with actions on withdrawing the controversial bill.” This sense of abandonment fueled their determination to continue protesting until their voices were heard and their demands met.
Ends///