Ministry of Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary, Korir Sing'Oei, on Tuesday, June 6, registered his disappointment with the management of protests countrywide.
His statement targeted a contingent of police officers, some in civilian clothes, who violently arrested a group of activists protesting against the Finance Bill 2023.
The Foreign Affairs PS wondered why the protesters were apprehended, yet they were peaceful and exercised their right to demonstrate.
"While I do not have the full context under which the arrests were made, I hold the view that no peaceful protest, particularly one focused on an ongoing national economic conversation, should be disrupted nor should any arrests be carried out," PS Sing'Oei asserted.
The PS responded to activist Boniface Mwangi, who accused President William Ruto's administration of doublespeak.
Mwangi warned that Ruto's administration was becoming a dictatorial regime intolerant to divergent views after barring peaceful protests in the Central Business District (CBD).
"Sending police to arrest peaceful protesters for exercising their right to be heard is dictatorial behaviour," Mwangi stated while calling on the government to embrace differing opinions.
The procession from Jevanjee Gardens in Nairobi was seemingly peaceful until a group of plain-clothed officers moved in to arrest the activists leading the protest.
Activists intended to deliver their petition to Members of Parliament, but their efforts were thwarted after anti-riot officers lobbed tear gas to disrupt their procession.
Over ten activists were arrested and detained at the Central Police Station, where they were processed before being arraigned in court.
The Finance Bill 2023, was tabled in Parliament on May 2, 2023, proposing a 35 per cent tax bracket for employees earning more than Ksh500,000 monthly.
Proposed changes were met with mixed reactions from stakeholders. Some welcomed the tax hikes, arguing they are necessary to boost revenue collection and reduce the country's budget deficit.
Others, led by opposition leader, Raila Odinga criticized the changes, arguing that they will disproportionately burden taxpayers and discourage investment.
MPs will vote on the Finance Bill 2023 on Thursday, June 8.
