26/06/2024
Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o expressed her support for Kenyan protesters opposing the controversial Financial Bill on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. Nyong’o praised the youth for exercising their democratic rights but expressed sorrow over the loss of lives during the protests.
“I salute the Kenyan youth and I am grateful to them for coming together in an extraordinary way to stand up against the problematic Finance Bill 2024 as well as to defend and promote the democratic rights of the Kenyan people. I am extremely saddened that lives have been lost in the process, and my thoughts are with the victims’ families,” she stated.
Nyong’o also urged the Kenyan government to seek peaceful solutions to unite the nation and address the public’s concerns.
Earlier, chaos erupted when protesters breached parliament buildings, chanting “Ruto must go.” Despite police efforts to disperse them, the protesters stormed the compound, causing property damage and vandalizing furniture, even helping themselves to food in the cafeteria.
President William Ruto, in response, described the events as a pivotal moment for national security. He assured that normalcy would be restored and those responsible for the demonstrations would face consequences.
“I hereby put on notice the planners, financiers, orchestrators, and abettors of violence and anarchy that these security infrastructures established to protect our republic and its sovereignty, will be deployed to secure the country and restore normalcy. The government will therefore uphold its constitutional mandate to secure our nation and its development and shall treat every threat to national security and the integrity of our state as an existential danger to our Republic,” Ruto declared.
He promised an “expeditious response” to what he described as treasonous activities.
