The anti-Finance Bill 2024 protests culminated in unprecedented scenes after individuals identified as “goons” infiltrated the Gen Z-led demos.
But as the nation came into terms with the conflicting figures on fatalities from the government and other institutions, some protesters found themselves on the wrong side of the law.
Here are the top stories that defined the week in this edition of the Roundup.
Police Hit Ground Running in Haiti
Amid the buildup of tension surrounding the protests in Kenya, Kenyan Police arrived in Port au Prince in Haiti for the U.N.-backed multinational security mission.
The police officers, 400 of them, embarked on a mission of securing key government installations and delivering the Caribbean nation from the grip of gangs.
Photos seen by The Kenya Times showed the Kenyan police officers patrolling the streets of the Haitian capital much to the relief of locals who have been terrorized by the gangs and seen their lives affected by the impact of the current state.
Equipped with body armors and classic assault rifles, the officers patrolled strategic parts of the city including the airport.
In a speech on Wednesday, Haiti’s Prime Minister Garry Conille expressed his optimism with the arrival of the Kenyan police officers describing it as the “dawn of a new era”.
He, however, acknowledged the difficult task facing his transition government in its endeavor to end the gang violence that has plagued the nation for years now.
What He Said
“Our country is at a crucial turning point in our history. We find ourselves facing a huge challenge but also an excellent opportunity to restore peace and security in our nation.”
Reality Check for Protesters
Even before the dust of the gen Z protests settled, some Kenyans found themselves in the wrong side of the law as they were arraigned in court to face various charges for their involvement in various activities during the demos.
Among them was a man named Jonathan Paul Mutua who was charged with stealing goods worth Ksh 37 million including meat during the protests in Eldoret.
According to a charge sheet seen by The Kenya Times, Mutua had in the company of other protesters broken into an entertainment joint where they stole drinks, meat, among other items valued at Ksh 37 million.
The assorted stolen items listed in the charge sheet included televisions, microwaves, chicken wings, beer mugs, and 181 kilograms of goat meat.
In an initial ruling, the magistrate handling the case granted the accused a bond of Ksh10 million.
The bond, however, sparked uproar among Kenyans who criticized it as unfair to the man.
In a counter petition filed against the prosecution, the High Court in Eldoret ordered the release of Mutua on a Ksh150,000 bond with one surety and an alternative of Ksh20,0000 bail.
DCI Shares Faces of Wanted Suspects
Meanwhile, efforts to arrest other suspects caught on camera violating the law in various places were in top gear as authorities vowed to bring all suspects to book.
In a notice on Wednesday, DCI shared photos of suspects who invaded Parliament and asked the public to assist with information about their whereabouts.
Among the listed suspects was a man who recorded himself at the Speaker’s seat in the National Assembly on June 25.
Elsewhere in Nyeri County, police embarked on a crackdown aimed at tracing suspects caught on camera vandalizing and stealing from Chieni Supermarkets.
Several goods with the supermarket’s serial barcodes were recovered in the crackdown leading to the arrest of several suspects.
Misinformation around the protests in Kenya
Amid the loads of information shared on social media platforms regarding the protests, fake news and misinformation infiltrated information flow and ended up misleading some users.
On Tuesday, for instance- social media reports claiming that protesters had set Club Timba XO on fire again in Eldoret emerged to spark reactions.
Different posts with a photo depicting the club linked to Kapsaret MP Oscar Sudi surrounded by a cloud of smoke made rounds a week after a group of protesters vandalized and stole from the joint.
A spot check by The Kenya Times, however, established that the images were manipulated and that the Club had not been torched as claimed.
Elsewhere in Kisii County, reports stating that a group of irate constituents stormed South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro’s home were circulated.
However, Osoro- who doubles up as the Majority Whip in the National Assembly dismissed the claims.
A doctored video purporting that Russian President had affirmed his support for the Kenyan anti-government protests also emerged on social media. The Russian Embassy in Kenya, however, dismissed it and labeled it fake.
Kenya Power Reminder
Kenya Power on Wednesday announced that 2 million prepaid meters have already been updated under the “Update Meter Yako” campaign.
The campaign is aimed at updating the software used in 7.4 million meters in the country.
Kenya Power launched the exercise in May and announced that all customers with the token (prepaid) meters are expected to update their systems by August 31, 2024.
Opportunities
The National Housing Corporation (NHC) advertised fifty-nine job opportunities across its various departments. In the notice placed in the My Gov publication, NHC announced vacancies in several positions including;
- Research and Innovation Managers
- Project Manager
- Marketing Manager
- Assistant Manager in Interior
Principal Construction Officer - Principal Engineer (Civil/Structural)
- Principal Quantity Surveyor
- Principal Interior Designer
Interested persons were asked to submit their applications online through the NHC website before the deadline on July 22, 2024.
Also Big This Week
- President William Ruto hosted an online conversation with over 100,000 Kenyans on X to discuss matters raised by Gen Z’s in the run up to the June 25 anti-government protests. Despite initial setbacks posed by technical hitches, the President finally went live in the space that also featured prominent government officials and X influencer Osama Otero.
- In response to concerns the state of public debt in Kenya, President Ruto on Friday appointed an 8-member taskforce to embark on a process of auditing the country’s debt.
- Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) was on the receiving end after reports emerged that the commission had proposed a salary increment for government officials including MPs. In response to the reports, MPs and Senators ganged up against SRC Chair Lynne Mengich and vowed to reject the planned pay rise. The SRC later confirmed that the decision to increase the salaries had been reversed.
- On Thursday, Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu unveiled a new system aimed at centralizing and harmonizing education data, providing a comprehensive and accurate source of information on learners from early grade levels to university education.
Thank you for reading.
Compiled by Robinson Ndungu
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