- In an unexpected twist to the tale of the June 2024 protests, Parliament security personnel emerged as the unlikely heroes during the Gen Z invasion.
- According to Lang’ata MP Phelix Khodhe alias Jalang’o, quick-thinking orderlies diverted the angry mob into the food service wing, buying MPs enough time to flee the premises.
- The former radio presenter, now a high-flying Nairobi politician, recounted events of the infamous June 25th invasion of parliament by protestors at the peak of the Anti-Finance Bill 2024 demos.
- Jalang’o appeared on the popular Kenyan podcast Iko Nini, engaging in a riveting conversation that touched on politics, poverty, and the state of Kenya’s media industry.
Inside the Historic Occupation of Parliament by Rowdy Crowds
On June 25, 2024, Kenya witnessed an unprecedented event as thousands of protesters, predominantly from the Gen Z demographic, stormed the Parliament buildings in Nairobi.
This dramatic escalation was in response to the controversial Finance Bill 2024, which proposed significant tax hikes amid economic hardship and rising public debt.
The protests, initially peaceful and organized through social media, quickly turned violent when demonstrators breached security barriers, leading to chaotic scenes within the parliamentary precincts.
Before the chaotic afternoon, large crowds trooped into Nairobi’s Central Business District, arriving from different neighborhoods within the city and its environs.
Shortly after 2 p.m., the agitated protesters began marching toward the Parliament buildings, where lawmakers were processing an Appropriations Bill.
MPs had already passed the punitive Finance Bill 2024 by a majority of 195 votes to the disappointment of the Kenyan public.
Jalang’o’s Last Ditch Effort to Save Kenya Kwanza Politicians From Public Lynching
In his brief recollection of the fateful day, the first-term MP says he walked out of the chambers after voting against the proposed law.
His vote was among the 106 votes on the losing side of the division.
While loitering outside, Hon. Jalas spotted the advancing crowds before rushing back to alert his busy colleagues inside the chambers.
“The team that had voted yes (Kenya Kwanza) was still inside parliament. Milly Odhiambo and I went back into parliament to warn them to leave immediately. The government-allied MPs were still working on an Appropriations Bill.”
According to him, his colleagues did not believe them, accusing them of disrupting the session. The overzealous MPs would continue transacting business until protestors breached the parliament’s perimeter minutes later.
Protestors Occupy Parliament Restaurant
Gunshots rang in the air, and commotion spilled into the parliament grounds, forcing the busy MPs to scamper for safety.
Police and parliament security made best efforts to keep the charged crowds at bay as members of parliament rushed to the back exits to escape the wrath of the public.
In a swift act of improvisation, security personnel redirected the rowdy youths toward the Parliament kitchen, which was stocked with food.
The youth obliged and proceeded to the impromptu luncheon, buying precious time for the under-fire MPs to escape.
All Kenya Kwanza politicians managed to escape, except the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party’s Nominated MP Jackson Kosgei, who was in a wheelchair.
In a past media interview, the MP who voted Yes said, “Unfortunately, the evacuation route was not friendly to wheelchair users like me.”
Hon. Kosgei narrated how the graceful protestors safely escorted him out of the premises despite having voted in favor of the bill.
The honorable member was also educated on the serious effects of the bill he had just voted for, in light of the soaring cost of living.
Parts of the Parliament were set ablaze, with clashes between protesters and security forces resulting in multiple fatalities and numerous injuries.
In the aftermath, President William Ruto condemned the actions as “treasonous” and deployed the military to assist in restoring order.
Facing mounting pressure and nationwide unrest, he subsequently withdrew the Finance Bill and dismissed a significant portion of his cabinet in an attempt to quell the dissent.
