Youths protest against county's bizarre bill
Youths from Limuru demonstrating on the Nairobi-Nakuru highway on Thursday October 31, 2013. They were protesting against a draft finance bill by the Kiambu County Government that seeks to charge exorbitant fees for services offered. They accused Governor William Kabogo of attempting to make their lives difficult through the bill. PHOTO|ANNE MACHARIA.
What you need to know:
- The bill proposes to charge bizarre fees for county cemeteries, church crusades and slaughtering of animals among other charges proposed by the county government.
- The youths were carrying a mock coffin written ‘RIP Kabogo’.
- Ndeiya Ward representative Nelson Munga, however assured the people of Kiambu that the finance bill was safely in the hands of the county assembly members who would not allow residents to be charged exorbitantly.
Youth in Limuru barricaded the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway on Thursday protesting against the draft Kiambu County Financial Bill, 2013.
The bill proposes to charge bizarre fees for county cemeteries, church crusades and slaughtering of animals among other charges proposed by the county government.
Shops Limuru market remained closed in Limuru for the better part of the day as the residents feared looting and run-ins with the police following the demonstrations.
The protests were largely peaceful except for a few stone throwing incidents and tear gas used to disperse the demonstrators.
Limuru police, led by area OCPD Michael Mbaluku were forced to disperse the crowd after they barricaded the main highway paralysing transport.
“You should organise a meeting with your leaders instead of demonstrating and paralysing normal operations of transport and business, ”Mr Mbaluku told the rowdy youths.
However, the youths who were carrying a mock coffin written ‘RIP Kabogo’ said they were angered and bitter with the leadership of their Governor William Kabogo whom they accused of making their life difficult by introducing the finance bill.
“The governor must be stopped before he goes too far in his boastful form of leadership, or we, the people of Kiambu will be paying Sh30,000 to maintain a cemetery as if it is a source of income,”
said Margaret Wanjiru, one of the protestors.
To maintain a cemetery, the finance bill proposes Sh30,000 as annual fee for that service offered by the county government.
Ndeiya Ward representative Nelson Munga, however assured the people of Kiambu that the finance bill was safely in the hands of the county assembly members who would not allow residents to be charged exorbitantly.
“We have the second reading of the finance bill next Tuesday, and I would like to assure the people of Kiambu that we will not pass a bill that will harm them,” said Mr Munga.
