UDA MP Heckled, Mic Cut Off for Urging Parliament to Address Kenyans’ Anger after Protests
- Violent protests erupted across Kenya on Wednesday, June 25, as citizens turned out to mark the first anniversary of the youths killed in the 2024 anti-Finance Bill demos
- The day turned chaotic as looting, destruction of public property and attacks on businesses swept across several towns
- Heated debates rocked Parliament a day later, with MPs blaming politicians and urging reflection on the anger fuelling Kenya’s unrest
CHECK OUT: How to Start Earning with Copywriting in Just 7 Days – Even if You’re a Complete Beginner
TUKO.co.ke journalist Harry Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya
What began as a memorial for slain protestors quickly turned into a nationwide wave of violence.
Source: UGC
On Wednesday, June 25, protests erupted across Kenya as citizens marked one year since the deaths of over sixty young people during the 2024 anti-Finance Bill demonstrations.
While the day was meant to honour their memory, it quickly spiralled into widespread unrest, with looting, property damage, and attacks on government institutions witnessed in several parts of the country.
By the next day, Thursday, June 26, the events had reached the floor of Parliament. Lawmakers gathered to reflect on the shocking scenes that had unfolded barely 24 hours earlier.
However, the debate turned into a heated blame game, with many MPs accusing political rivals of fuelling the chaos for personal gain.
A number of legislators singled out former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, accusing him of orchestrating the unrest by hiring goons to wreak havoc in major cities.
Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen had stated earlier that the destruction seen in Nairobi and other towns was not spontaneous but part of a well-coordinated scheme aimed at destabilising the government.
Gatanga MP's mic switched off in Parliament
However, not all lawmakers joined in the finger-pointing.
Gatanga MP Edward Muriu took a more reflective stance, calling on his colleagues to look beyond political rivalry and address the root causes of public discontent.
Speaking passionately before the House, Muriu asked why Kenyans were angry enough to risk their lives in violent protests. He pointed to rampant joblessness, overtaxation and a growing sense that the government was ignoring the cries of its people.
"Mr. Speaker, as we speak about the riots and looting witnessed on June 25, there's one thing we are not focusing on. Why is the country angry? The country is angry because the youths do not have jobs. There is overtaxation. The country is angry because the government has refused to listen to them," he said.
"Yesterday you blamed Raila Odinga. Today, you are saying it is Gachagua. I want to tell you that unless we address the issues plaguing this country, such as mismanagement of the economy, the anger will persist," the lawmaker added.
Muriu's speech was interrupted multiple times by jeers from other MPs. As tensions rose in the chamber, his microphone was eventually cut off.
Later that night, he posted on X, insisting that switching off his microphone would not silence the "truth". He warned that unless Parliament addresses the economic and social issues facing ordinary Kenyans, unrest will persist.
Source: UGC
Who attacked Kimani Ichung'wah's parents?
In a separate development, Kikuyu MP and National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah shocked Parliament with a personal account of the violence.
He claimed that protesters targeted his property and family during the demonstrations. His business premises were reported to have been broken into and vandalised, while his elderly parents, aged 105 and 85, narrowly escaped harm during the chaos.
Ichung’wah suggested that the attacks might have been politically motivated and pointed fingers at Gachagua, accusing him of mobilising youth to target his family as a form of political revenge.
Kikuyu Law Court burned
During the skirmishes, Kikuyu Law Court was burned by suspected goons who also vandalised the county commissioner's office.
The court registrar told the press that the arsonists targeted the registry office where nearly all criminal files were burned to ashes.
He alleged that some parties could have colluded with the arsonists to set ablaze the registrar's office in a desperate bid to destroy the records and defeat the course of justice.
Chief Justice Martha Koome visited the court on Thursday, June 26, to assess the extent of the damage.
She confirmed that the court had digital backup of the destroyed files and allayed fears that the cases could collapse due to the fire incident.
Masolo Mabonga, HOD Current Affairs and Politics, updated this article with details on fire incident at Kikuyu law courts.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
