President William Ruto and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua have beefed up security for the ongoing church service at ACK Diocese of Nyahururu in Laikipia County.
In a video seen by The Kenya Times, police officers are seen conducting security checks at the gates as residents line up to be searched one by one to ensure they are not carrying any harmful items.
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According to reports, congregants attending the service have been subjected to a mandatory security search.
“Stay in the queue, there is no queue there. Please ensure that you are in a queue,” a police officer is heard directing the congregants.
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Others are ordered to open their jackets to aid in the exercise which did not exclude members of the clergy.
Roadblocks as Ruto Visit Nyahururu
Earlier, police officers mounted roadblocks on major roads near Nyahururu town ahead of planned #occupynyahururu protests.
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Officers were also deployed to Nyahururu, especially in the areas bordering the church, to ensure no protests occurred during the president’s visit.
Videos shown before President Ruto arrived depicted police officers patrolling within the church premises and outside.
This comes amid growing tensions from the youth in different parts of the country, who are ganging up against the Finance Bill 2024.
Protests have been held in various parts of the country, including Nairobi CBD, Mombasa, Nakuru, Eldoret, Kisumu, and Nyeri, among others, opposing the bill.
Moreover, Kenyans have also taken to social media to voice their opposition under the hashtags #rejectfinancebill2024, #occupyparliament, and #occupy other major towns.
Also Read: Church Leaders Bow to Pressure, Issue Anti-Finance Bill Bible Verses
Occupy Churches
On Saturday, June 22, a section of Kenyans ran hashtags “Occupy the Church” and “Occupy Nyahururu” alongside the seven-day plan against the Finance Bill.
The organizers hinted at plans to occupy churches nationwide on Sunday, June 23 with the motive of blocking all MPs who voted in favor of the bill from addressing congregants in churches.
Also Read: Crazy Nairobian Reveals Next Move Hours After He Was Released
The organizers also aim to use churches to voice their grievances and oppose the Finance Bill.
In their seven-day plan, activist Boniface Mwangi stated that on Monday, June 24, protesters will make a courtesy call on MPs who voted ‘Yes’ at their constituency offices, followed by the second round of Occupy Parliament protests the next day.
Mwangi said the protesters will visit IPOA offices and the IG of Police on Wednesday before marching to State House the next day.
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