BY: MURIMI WANJIKU
As thousands of youths stormed Parliament on Tuesday protesting over the draconian Finance Bill 2024/2025, some of them invaded Laikipia County Assembly where they destroyed the facility and stole a number of key items.
Speaking to the media in his Nanyuki town office, Laikipia County Assembly Speaker Lantano Nabaala said irate youths, terming themselves as Gen Zs, stormed the premises during the protests and damaged it by hurling stones.
Nabaala said the protesters further destroyed vehicles belonging to MCAs and staff before storming into the House’s chambers where they destroyed several items.
The Speaker was inside his office when hundreds of youths invaded the facility and damaged a Hansard system which cost Sh60 million and a CCTV system that cost Sh35 million. He said the entire estimated damage is about Sh150 million.
“All electronic gadgets were stolen. We have deployed teams that are probing this incident, and they will come up with the total loss incurred. A loss of over Sh150 million was a huge loss for the people of Laikipia and the people’s representatives who had no hand in the Finance Bill which was being rejected,” Nabaala said.
At the same time, a section of youths in Nanyuki town have raised an outcry, accusing Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri for allegedly threatening them over the Tuesday’s protests that led to massive destruction of premises.
Patrick Wahome alleged that the lawmaker had called him via his mobile phone, making unspecified consequences for leading the protests over the Finance Bill.
Wahome, who was flanked by several youth leaders, said he had reported the matter at Nanyuki police station.
The youths claimed they had severally received threats for rejecting the Bill that was fronted by President William Ruto’s administration.
“It is unacceptable for a leader, whom we respect, to threaten us for airing our views over the Finance Bill. This regime must protect us instead of threatening us and our families,” Wahome said.
Former Laikipia East MP Mutahi Kimaru called on President Ruto to hearken to the protesting youths and also focus on lowering the cost of living.
Kimaru said the dissenting voices raised by Kenyans should inform the Kenya Kwanza administration to learn to listen to its electorates before making crucial decisions affecting them.
“We are glad that our President decided to backtrack on his stance over the controversial Bill. Now, we want him and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua to unite and govern this nation as per the wish of the people,” the former legislator told the media.
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