Ekuru Aukot, the leader of the Thirdway Alliance party, described Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's speech regarding the protests against the Finance Bill 2024 as a threat to Kenyan lives.
This comes after Gachagua pleaded with young Kenyans on Wednesday to call off their planned demonstrations to take over the State House on Thursday, July 27, "so that we don't have further loss of life and destruction of property."
"As the deputy president and a patriotic son, I want to urge Generation Z to cancel tomorrow's protests because the president has heard their cries. Gachagua continued, "He acknowledges that there was a disconnect, so it is only right that we end the protests.
According to Aukot, Gachagua's remarks represent a grave risk to human life since they alluded to the possibility of police brutality in the event that the young people take to the streets.
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"I read a threat when I listen to Gachagua. What makes him think that we don't want to lose any more lives? Is it because they don't know that Kenyans have the right to peaceful protest?" he asked.
"That peaceful protest should really be protected by the police. Why does he seem to be hinting at deaths? I find it difficult to accept what he is saying."
Aukot added that more people ought to be held accountable for the people who were killed by police during the nonviolent demonstrations that descended into chaos when the cops opened fire.
"I want to see some heads roll. Is it feasible for IG Koome to accept accountability for the events or the Nairobi regional commander?" Aukot pointed out.
"We have dead bodies; lives were lost. That is the fault of someone, but who is it, given how peaceful those youths were?
President William Ruto declared he would not sign the controversial Finance Bill 2024 and referred it back to Parliament for withdrawal after the government finally gave in to pressure following three days of fierce protests.
"Having reflected on the continuing conversation around the content of the finance bill of 2024, I will decline to assent to the bill," President Ruto said on Wednesday evening.
