PBI-Kenya has posted:
‘We express our grave concern about the reports of disappearances of Oguda, Osama, Drey, TemperCR7, Harriet, Shad, Franje, Worldsmith and Hilla254. Before this, Billy, Dr Omondi and Leslie Muturi had also been disappeared and later returned. Billy and Dr Omondi were found at Nairobi police stations. There are indications of a pattern of enforced disappearances. The rights of these men and women taken by police against their will are being violated every minute they are held. We urge for the immediate release of all individuals who have been arbitrarily detained.”
Now, The Star reports:
“Several social media users and content creators are missing after they were abducted in overnight operations in the country hours to anti-Finance Bill demonstrations.
Officials said this was among strategies being used to defuse the planned protests against the proposed taxes.
Among those taken were vocal social media and political activist Gabriel Oguda.
He was among at least ten people who were rounded up on Tuesday, June 25, officials said.
Osama Otero who has been holding popular X Spaces opposing the Finance Bill 2024, was also reportedly abducted by unknown people.
Other X users who are suspected to have been abducted include Drey Mwangi, TemperCR7, Harriet, Shad, Franje, Worldsmith and Hilla254.
Many others are missing after being abducted by state agents amid uproar from families and friends.”
Photo: Protest against the Finance Bill, June 25. Photo by Boniface Okendo, Standard.
Tweet of CNN interview with Auma Obama, Kenyan-British community activist, sociologist, journalist, author, and half-sister of Barack Obama.
Shots fired on peaceful protests
This hour, Aljazeera reports: “People have been shot with live fire in Nairobi, but the exact number of casualties remains unconfirmed. A Reuters journalist counted the bodies of at least five protesters outside parliament. A paramedic, Vivian Achista, told Reuters at least 10 had been shot dead. Another paramedic, Richard Ngumo, said more than 50 people had been wounded by gunfire.”
IMF loan
Reuters has explained: “In the 2024/25 bill, the Kenyan government aims to raise $2.7 billion in additional taxes to reduce the budget deficit and state borrowing. Kenya’s public debt stands at 68 per cent of GDP, higher than the 55 per cent of GDP recommended by the World and the International Monetary Fund. Grappling with acute liquidity challenges amid uncertainty over its ability to access capital from financial markets, Kenya has turned to the IMF – which has urged the government to meet revenue targets to access more funding.”
The BBC has also noted: “Amendments to the bill look set to be approved but some of the controversial provisions initially put forward included a plan to introduce a 16% sales tax on bread and 25% duty on cooking oil. The government said it was dropping these measures amid a public outcry.”
That report adds: “The finance bill introduces a 16% tax on goods and services for the direct and exclusive use in the construction and equipping of specialised hospitals with a minimum bed capacity of 50. Many Kenyans have been apprehensive that this could mean higher costs to access critical health services for cancer, diabetes, kidney dialysis or other chronic illnesses.”
#FreeOguda #FreeOsama #RejectFinanceBill2024 #OccupyParliament
Published by Brent Patterson on