A Scathing Rebuke To Kenya’s Leaders: Heed The People’s Demands Or Face The Consequences
The Mt Kenya Times 
Reject finance bill 2024 protests
By Jerameel Kevins Owuor Odhiambo
Worth Noting:
- Your actions demonstrate a complete disconnect from the realities faced by the common Kenyan. As the cost of living continues to soar, you have the audacity to propose tax hikes on essential goods and services, further crippling the already struggling masses. Have you no shame, no empathy for the hardships endured by your fellow citizens?
- Article 10 of the Constitution outlines the national values and principles of governance, including “participation of the people” and “transparency and accountability.” Yet, your actions scream of a government that is deaf to the people’s voices and opaque in its decision-making processes.
“The man who can ask himself what is the matter with him is on the high road to self-improvement, but the man who can ask what is the matter with his society is on the path to changing the world.” – Chinua Achebe
“The people’s struggles are the real history of the nation.” – Ngugi wa Thiong’o
Honorable Members of the National Assembly and His Excellency President William Ruto,
We, the people of Kenya, are outraged by your blatant disregard for our well-being and your insistence on pushing through the Finance Bill 2024, despite the widespread public outcry. Let us remind you, as our esteemed representatives, that you are mere servants of the people, and it is your duty to heed our demands and aspirations.
The Constitution of Kenya, in Article 1, clearly states that “All sovereign power belongs to the people of Kenya and shall be exercised only in accordance with this Constitution.” Yet, you have chosen to ignore the will of the people and impose upon us a financial burden that we cannot bear.
Your actions demonstrate a complete disconnect from the realities faced by the common Kenyan. As the cost of living continues to soar, you have the audacity to propose tax hikes on essential goods and services, further crippling the already struggling masses. Have you no shame, no empathy for the hardships endured by your fellow citizens?
Article 10 of the Constitution outlines the national values and principles of governance, including “participation of the people” and “transparency and accountability.” Yet, your actions scream of a government that is deaf to the people’s voices and opaque in its decision-making processes.
We, the people, demand that you heed our calls and scrap the Finance Bill 2024 in its entirety. Your attempts to appease us by removing a few provisions are nothing more than a feeble attempt to pacify the masses. We see through your charade and will not be silenced by your empty gestures.
Article 37 of the Constitution guarantees us the right to assemble, to demonstrate, to picket, and to present petitions to public authorities. We have exercised this right, taking to the streets in protest, yet you have responded with heavy-handed tactics, arresting and brutalizing our fellow citizens.
Your actions are a blatant violation of our constitutional rights and a betrayal of the very principles upon which this nation was founded. We will not be cowed by your intimidation tactics; instead, we will stand firm in our resolve to fight for a better Kenya.
Article 94 of the Constitution states that the National Assembly “shall protect this Constitution and promote the democratic governance of the Republic.” Yet, your actions demonstrate a complete disregard for the Constitution and a blatant attempt to subvert the democratic process.
We, the people, demand that you uphold your oath of office and fulfill your duties as our representatives. If you cannot or will not do so, then we call upon you to step aside and make way for those who will put the interests of the people first.
Article 259 of the Constitution states that it “shall be interpreted in a manner that promotes its purposes, values and principles, advances the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms in the Bill of Rights and permits the development of the law.” Yet, your actions fly in the face of these principles, trampling on our rights and undermining the rule of law.
We, the people, demand that you respect the Constitution and uphold the values and principles that it enshrines. If you fail to do so, then we will have no choice but to take matters into our own hands and assert our sovereign power.
Article 1 of the Constitution states that “sovereign power under this Constitution is delegated to the following state organs, the national executive, the Parliament and the Judiciary.” Yet, you have abused this power and betrayed the trust placed in you by the people.
We, the people, demand that you return this power to its rightful owners – the citizens of Kenya. If you refuse to do so, then we will have no choice but to reclaim our sovereignty by any means necessary.
Article 38 of the Constitution guarantees us the right to make political choices, including the right to form, or participate in forming, a political party; to participate in the activities of, or recruit members for, a political party; and to campaign for a political cause or candidate in an election. Yet, your actions have made a mockery of these rights, as you continue to prioritize your own interests over those of the people.
We, the people, demand that you respect our political rights and allow us to make informed choices about the future of our nation. If you cannot or will not do so, then we will have no choice but to exercise our right to vote you out of office and replace you with leaders who will put the interests of the people first.
Article 232 of the Constitution outlines the values and principles of public service, including “responsive, prompt, effective, impartial and equitable provision of services.” Yet, your actions demonstrate a complete disregard for these principles, as you continue to prioritize your own interests over those of the people.
We, the people, demand that you uphold these values and principles and provide us with the services and support that we deserve. If you cannot or will not do so, then we will have no choice but to hold you accountable for your failures and demand that you be removed from office.
In conclusion, we, the people of Kenya, call upon you, our esteemed representatives, to heed the demands of the people and scrap the Finance Bill 2024 in its entirety. If you refuse to do so, then we will have no choice but to assert our sovereign power and take matters into our own hands. Remember, as Chinua Achebe once said, “The man who can ask himself what is the matter with him is on the high road to self-improvement, but the man who can ask what is the matter with his society is on the path to changing the world.” We, the people of Kenya, are on the path to changing our society, and we will not rest until our demands are met.
The writer is a legal researcher and lawyer.
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