Nairobi — Former presidential aspirant and Roots Party leader George Wajackoyah led a protest against the Finance Bill 2024 in Dallas, USA, on Sunday.
The bill, criticized for its potential negative impact on the economic well-being of ordinary Kenyans, has sparked widespread outrage.
Wajackoyah, known for his vocal stance on national issues, expressed solidarity with Kenyans at home and abroad, urging the diaspora community to voice their concerns and support the Generation Z protests. "We want to chase away fraudsters together with our young Generation Z," he stated.
Protests Continue Across Kenya
Back in Kenya, the protests are set to continue throughout the week. Chants of 'Ruto Must Go' echoed through nightclubs in cities and major towns on Saturday night as Generation Z intensified their campaign against the Finance Bill 2024. Videos shared on social media showed nightclubs in Nairobi, Nakuru, Eldoret, Kericho, Narok, and Naivasha erupting into anti-Finance Bill chants around midnight.
In well-coordinated night protests, DJs halted the music to lead revelers in the chants. Clubs like Timba XO and Tamasha in Eldoret, Space Next Door and Platinum 7D in Nakuru City, were filled with loud chants against the Bill and the president for 15 to 30 minutes.
From TikTok Outcry to Street Protests
What began as an outcry on TikTok over the Finance Bill has transformed into a revolt, potentially sustaining a political movement to defend the Constitution. The protests have spread from the streets of Nairobi to other cities and towns, reaching social places, including nightclubs.
The nightclub protest was organized on social media through a Twitter Space chat on Saturday morning. Titus Odhiambo, alias DJ Montana, faced disruptions during his planned nonstop music night in Kitale as revelers interrupted with their chants.
Nationwide Nightclub Protests
In videos and photos posted on social media, youths were seen chanting 'Ruto must Go!' in nightclubs across Nairobi, Eldoret, Thika, Narok, and other counties. In one clip from a Westlands Club, a DJ led the youths in a Swahili song, asking, "What will separate me from Jesus Christ, is it the Finance Bill?" to which the revelers responded, "No, we have totally refused."
The DJ then played Juliani's 'Utawala,' a song depicting a hungry Kenyan fighting against corruption, nepotism, tribalism, and discrimination. In another clip from Thika, nightclub promoters displayed an animation screen with 'Reject Finance Bill' signs as they moved around the venue.
Unified Protests
At Tamasha Lounge in Eldoret, Uasin Ngishu County, youths chanted 'Ruto must go' for almost five minutes as the music stopped. Similarly, in Suswa, Narok, they observed a one-minute silence in solidarity with Generation Z's efforts against the Finance Bill.
Another clip from Nairobi showed a DJ ordering the lights to be switched off before instructing the youths to use their mobile phone lights. He then played the national anthem as youths passionately sang along. "They have abused us as youths, and now is the time for us to stand up and fight back because this is our country, and we are not going anywhere," the DJ was heard saying.
'7 Days of Rage'
The chants and protests followed a '7 Days of Rage' poster outlining actions to be taken by protesting Kenyans leading up to the main protest on Tuesday. Plans included singing anti-Ruto chants and patriotic songs at midnight in all nightclubs for about 10 minutes.
Another poster, 'Reject Hour,' instructed all nightclubs to stop music from 11:59 PM to 12:09 AM, paving the way for 'Reject Finance Bill' chants. Kenyans observed the 10-minute protest session by either remaining silent, singing protest songs, or singing the national anthem.
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National Solidarity
At Cavalli in Nairobi, revelers joined in singing Eric Wainaina's classic 'Daima.' Even at a local pub in Karatina, patrons stood up and chanted, "Reject Finance Bill." At Platinum 7D in Nakuru, DJ Grauchi initiated the protest with Juliani's 'Utawala.' At Yacht Lounge in Mtwapa, DJ Joe Mfalme led a moment of silence for murdered protester Rex Kanyike.
Viona Nyambura, a reveler, expressed her pride in being Kenyan and her sense of purpose in participating in the protest. "Today was different. It didn't feel like a normal nightclub routine, and we felt the togetherness of Kenyans as we joined hands in chanting against the Finance Bill," she said.
