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Human rights activist Boniface Mwangi has called on the public to ignore any confusion and occupy the Parliament.

This comes in the wake of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s appeal to Gen Zs to call off the protests planned for Thursday, June 27, 2024.

Call to end protests

Speaking to the press in Mombasa on Wednesday, Gachagua urged the youth to halt the demonstrations, stating that their demands had already been met.

Despite his plea, online mobilization continued into Wednesday night, with some groups even suggesting a march to the State House.

By Thursday morning, Khalif Kairo and Hanifa Adan have been urging their peers not to take to the streets.

However, Mwangi has maintained that public turnout is crucial to demonstrate that politicians do not control the populace.

“People coming out today is to remove the idea that politicians own us. It’s a demonstration that this moment belongs to us and it’s WE the People who tell the president what to do and not the other way around,” Mwangi posted on X.

Mwangi emphasized that calling off the demonstrations would render the sacrifices of those who died, were arrested, or abducted in vain.

Boniface Mwangi’s message

He urged people to occupy Parliament instead of State House, as some had threatened.

“Secondly, the state has used fear by killing people on Tuesday and there should be a clear signal that speaking up shouldn’t be this costly. Those who were abducted, maimed and killed would otherwise have done so in vain. Ignore those bringing confusion, and most importantly, telling you to Occupy State House. See you at Parliament. #OccupyParliament,” he added.

People coming out today is to remove the idea that politicians own us, it’s a demonstration that this moment belongs to us and it’s WE the People who tell the president what to do and not the other way round

Secondly, the state has used fear by killing people on Tuesday and… pic.twitter.com/1FieniC2SM

— The People’s Watchman (@bonifacemwangi) June 27, 2024

On Wednesday, President William Ruto declined to sign the controversial Finance Bill 2024, citing the need to align with the popular mood of the majority of Kenyans.

Ruto stated that he would instead implement austerity measures to cut operational costs across all government organs.

The bill, which was passed on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, saw 195 members of Parliament voting in favour, 106 against, and three abstentions.

The bill was adopted with amendments, including the removal of the motor vehicle tax and VAT on bread and financial services while maintaining other taxes such as the Railway Development Levy at 2.5 percent on customs value and the import declaration fee at 3.5 percent.

This approval came amid protesters clashing with police outside Parliament and on Nairobi city streets, hoping the President would not sign it into law.

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