馃嚢馃嚜KenyaEast Africa
Githurai 45 experiences chaos and robberies during anti-Finance Bill protest commemoration
via Tuko2 min read
Chaos erupted in Githurai 45 during the commemoration of anti-Finance Bill 2024 protest victims, with reports of rogue youths robbing residents and businesses. Uniformed police officers were observed to be seemingly unbothered by the incidents. The June 25 demonstrations were intended to honor Gen Z individuals who died during the 2024 protests. While protests in other areas remained peaceful, Githurai 45 saw violence. Citizen TV footage reportedly showed officers idle as robberies occurred. Subsequently, a contingent of civilian police was deployed to disperse and arrest youths involved in robberies and setting bonfires. Along Thika Road, youths blocked the road at Roysambu, engaged police in confrontations, and caused destruction, including throwing stones at vehicles. Anti-riot police fired shots into the air to protect commuters and businesses. Several arrests were made, including one individual suspected of phone theft. Government officials had urged peaceful demonstrations.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Tuko.
Must ReadEzekiel Kyama, known for his viral appearance in Parliament during the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests, was arrested on June 25 during demonstrations commemorating the second anniversary of those protests. Kyama, who gained attention for sitting in the Speaker's chair and saying "Mr Speaker Sir, I am here to address you," was among hundreds of Kenyans who took to the streets. He and other detainees were taken to Nairobi Central Police Station. A video shared from a police cell showed Kyama appealing for assistance, stating, "We are at Central Police Station. We have been arrested. We had come for the anniversary. There are so many of us here." Other detainees in the video called on Embakasi East MP Babu Owino for aid. The circumstances surrounding the arrests and potential charges were not publicly disclosed at the time of publication.
President William Ruto's administration is set to overhaul birth registration services in Kenya by digitizing applications and eliminating fees. Principal Secretary for Immigration and Citizen Services Dr. Belio Kipsang confirmed that the government is finalizing plans to make birth certificates free and accessible online. Currently, Kenyans pay KSh 200 for a birth certificate, but this charge will be removed. The new system will automatically capture birth details in hospitals and assign each child a Unique Personal Identifier UPI. This integration with the Hospital Management System aims to address delays caused by parents leaving hospitals before birth notifications are fully processed. Once implemented, parents will be able to access and print birth certificates online from cyber caf茅s or their homes, eliminating the need for queues and reducing processing times. This initiative is part of a broader effort to ensure easy access to identification documents, following the abolition of fees for first-time national identity card applications and ID replacements. A similar e-notification system for death registration is also being finalized.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli has denied claims that police blocked major roads leading to Nairobi's Central Business District CBD during protests on Thursday, June 25. Masengeli stated that security officers were conducting checks to ensure the safety of Kenyans and that many roads around the city remained open. He clarified that the police presence was for security checks, not to restrict movement, and that officers were facilitating citizens. Masengeli reported that the country remained calm with citizens conducting their daily activities undisturbed. He urged the public to act lawfully during gatherings or demonstrations and assured that the National Police Service would safeguard all Kenyans.