Youth activist Ezekiel Kyama arrested during anti-Finance Bill protest anniversary
via Tuko2 min read
Ezekiel 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.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Tuko.
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.
Must ReadProtesters recently offered comfort to Jacinta Onyango, the mother of 12-year-old Kennedy Onyango, who was killed in Ongata Rongai during the anti-Finance Bill 2024 protests. Jacinta joined demonstrators as they commemorated the deaths of young people during past demonstrations. Accompanied by activists and opposition leaders, wreaths were laid on the barbed wire barricading parliament buildings. Jacinta Onyango demanded justice for her son and appealed to President William Ruto to ensure no victims were subjected to tear gas during the remembrance. She stated, "We need justice. I want to see the person who killed my son. So I can forgive him. He was only 12 years old." Protesters sang and hugged her, offering support. A government pathologist, Peter Ndegwa, reported that Kennedy died from a single bullet wound that caused severe hemorrhage, severing arteries and veins and puncturing his lungs. This report contradicted family claims that he was shot multiple times. Meanwhile, Nairobi Police Commander Issa Mohamud confirmed several arrests across the country and urged protesters to remain calm. Roads leading to Nairobi CBD were blocked, with Mohamud explaining this was to prevent thugs from accessing key infrastructure, not peaceful demonstrators.