Majority Leader in the National Assembly, Kimani Ichung’wah, has recalled the tense moments that preceded the invasion of Parliament by demonstrators on June 25, 2024.
On Tuesday, June 25, 2024, at least 14 people were killed and Parliament torched as Members of Parliament passed the controversial Finance Bill 2024 which provoked a popular uprising among young Kenyans.
In a candid interview on Citizen TV, MP Ichung’wah revealed that he had received credible intelligence moments before the breach, which warned lawmakers to leave the house as law enforcement officers had been overpowered.
The Kikuyu MP disclosed that the intelligence detailed an imminent threat posed by a group of goons who had infiltrated the peaceful demonstrations, further escalating the situation.
Ichung’wah and Junet recall day of Parliament breach
At the time, the Majority Leader explained, Parliament was deep into its proceedings, focused on passing the Appropriations Bill which he said was crucial for the country.
“We had information, credible intelligence information that we ought to finish quickly because the masses were building up. The security forces were running out of teargas, and they had to be careful not to shoot people, so we need to finish fast and close business. And at some point, I think just when we were about to begin the Appropriation Bill somebody came and called me to the back and whispered to me that we are being asked to leave and I was asked to inform the Speaker,” he recalled.
“Up to this day I’ve never told the speaker. I never informed him because my mind was Resolute that we must finish with the Appropriation bill because if we didn’t government would come to a halt. What I did was to prompt him to move business quickly so that we finish. We had information that there were goons who had been mobilized away from the peaceful and legitimate protesters to invade Parliament and that is why now we are being asked to leave.”
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Opposition MPs join protestors
Minority Leader Junet Mohamed, on his part, said that some of the MPs from the minority side joined the demonstrators before the conclusion of the Bill which was in its third stage reading.
Junet Mohamed recalled that, as the bill reached its third and final reading, the minority side which was also receiving updates about the growing unrest outside made a decisive move to join the demonstrators.
“We were informed by the authorities in Parliament that there’s a likelihood that the demonstrators might come to Parliament now because the police you know looked overpowered or something. We did not wait for the conclusion of the bill at the third stage third reading,” Junet recalled.
June Protests
At least 14 people were killed and Parliament torched as MPs allied to President William Ruto passed the controversial Finance Bill 2024 which provoked a popular uprising among young Kenyans, commonly known as the Gen Z on June 25, 2024.
Also Read: PS Raymond Omollo Reveals the Lessons Govt Picked from Gen Z Protests
Gen Z protestors staged the fifth of their “seven days of rage” hold-out against Ruto government’s hard-line stance on Finance Bill 2024 in 35 of Kenya’s 47 counties, pouring out in the streets in their thousands, shouting down the government, burning and looting properties associated with MPs who had supported the bill.
Protesters took charge of the city’s central business district in the day-long protests in Nairobi with businesses shutting down for the day.
In addition, Police tear gassed the crowds, sprayed and shot at them. Majority of the fatalities occurred outside parliamentary premises when the protesters overpowered the authorities and ran inside the hallowed chambers.
Lawmakers who had just concluded the vote- 195 to 109 for the bill- were hushed through a secret tunnel to the basement of their new building where they were kept until police secured the facility.
Following the chaotic scenes witnessed that day, President Ruto was forced to reject the Bill in its entirety.
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