Police in Kisumu negotiated with protestors where they agreed that they will not interfere as long as the peaceful protestors don’t get close to the State Lodge.
In a video shared on X, the law enforcement officers were captured engaging with the leaders of the protestors who were chanting anti-government songs.
After their brief discussion, the leaders informed the group what they had agreed about.
“Iko mtu ameibiwa?”one posed as the crowd shouted no. “mtu amechokozwa? Iko polisi ameumizwa. Polisi wametuongelesha, wamesema ni sawa tuendelee na maandamano lakini wanaomba kitu moja. Unaona penye hio bike iko, hapooo”
The excited crowd however requested the police for some items to aid them in their protests.
“Watupee maji,” one shouted as another said, “Wasitupige na teargas.”
“Just don’t get close to the state lodge,” Police negotiate peace with Kisumu protesters pic.twitter.com/Oh1tOLmynj
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) June 27, 2024
The protests are ongoing in different parts of the country; including Nairobi and Kakamega, despite President William Ruto rejecting the Finance Bill 2024 and calling for dialogue with the Youthful protestors.
“Listening keenly to the people of Kenya who have said loudly that they want nothing to do with this finance bill 2024, I concede. And therefore, I will not sign the 2024 finance bill, and it shall subsequently be withdrawn,” the head of state said.
His deputy on the other hand, blamed NIS Director General Noordin Haji for the protests, accusing him of being incompetent.
“There would have been no mayhem, but they slept on the job,” Gachagua said, urging Haji to resign.
The second in command went on to urge youths to call off the Thursday protests, that would have seen them match to Statehouse.
Despite word and assurance from the government over Finance Bill 2024, Boniface Mwangi, a key participant in the protests, however vowed that they would continue protesting.
“People coming out today is to remove the idea that politicians own us, it’s a demonstration that this moment belongs to us and it’s WE the People who tell the president what to do and not the other way round Secondly, the state has used fear by killing people on Tuesday and there should be a clear signal that speaking up shouldn’t be this costly. Those who were abducted, maimed and killed would otherwise have done so in vain. Ignore those bringing confusion, and most importantly telling you to Occupy State House. See you at parliament,” Mwangi tweeted.