Kenya’s Gen Z Plans ‘7-Days of Rage’ Protests Against Finance Bill 2024 #TotalShutdown
Kenya’s Generation Z is set to showcase their unwavering resolve in opposing the Finance Bill 2024 with a new series of demonstrations planned for the upcoming week.
From #OccupyParliament to #OccupyStateHouse and #JusticeForRex, the youth have been vibrant online, now introducing a new hashtag, #totalshutdown.
A widely shared poster on social media indicates a seven-day protest aimed at showing solidarity for a slain colleague and urging the government to reject the Bill, which has passed the second reading.
Named ‘7 days of rage’, the protests aim to caution MPs who supported the Bill against their constituents’ wishes and press multi-agency bodies to investigate police brutality against protesters.
“We reject the Finance Bill completely. Despite our peaceful protests, police have responded with bullets, killing two, injuring many, and leaving one in critical condition. We will not be silenced, so we continue to march,” part of the poster read.
On Friday, June 21, the youth plan to visit the City Mortuary, attend Juma prayers at Jamia Mosque, and provide water to those leaving after prayers.
Saturday, June 22, sees a unity call extended to bars and clubs frequented by Gen Z, where music will halt at midnight for a national chant of ‘Ruto must go, and Reject Finance Bill’.
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Sunday, June 23, involves activities holding the 204 MPs who supported the Bill accountable in churches, with plans to rally churches to deny these MPs a platform to address congregants.
Monday will feature visits to MPs’ constituency offices, urging boycotts of businesses linked to them, and gathering signatures to recall them.
Tuesday will mark the second #OccupyParliament protest, with Gen Zs warning of a nationwide strike and a ‘Total Shutdown’.
“Gen Zs are giving all hardworking Kenyans a day off. Parents, keep your children at home in solidarity,” the notice stated.
Wednesday will see a call to action demanding justice for Rex, who was killed during Thursday’s protests in Nairobi, with visits to IPOA offices and Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome.
Thursday, the climax of the protests, will involve blocking main roads to Nairobi and marching to State House under #OccupyStateHouse, coinciding with President William Ruto’s expected signing of the Finance Bill into law, which Gen Zs describe as witnessing “Ruto sign our lives into slavery”.
Kenya’s Gen Z Plans ‘7-Days of Rage’ Protests Against Finance Bill 2024 #TotalShutdown