Activist Hanifa arrested during #OccupyParliament anti-Finance Bill demos

 

Key takeaways

1. 1. Going by @Honeyfarsafi on X, she is a popular activist and Twitter bigwig.
   2. Hanifa joined the famous Kenyans on X (KOX) for her sustained criticism of Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja on the persistent garbage challenge in the city.
   3. Honeyfarsafi was arrested outside Kenya National Archives in the Nairobi CBD during the highly anticipated #OccupyParliament and #RejectFinanceBill demos.

 

 

 

 

Also read: Top 3 Kenyan Stars Who Have Found it Rough in Politics

 

 

#OccupyParliament and contentious Finance Bill 2024 proposals

 

Kenyans have taken to social media to express anger and resentment toward the Finance Bill 2024, set to be tabled in parliament.

Once enacted into law, the bill shall give the green light for the government to implement stringent revenue collection measures.

Social media platforms including X are ablaze with hostile reactions to the new tax proposals that include:

1. 1. 16% Value Added Tax imposed on household items like bread.
   2. Excise duty on vegetable oil.
   3. Automobile tax at the rate of 2.5% of the value of the motor vehicle with a minimum of KES 5,000 and a ceiling of KES 100,000.
   4. Rise on excise duty for mobile transactions from 15% to 20%.

#OccupyParliament is a hashtag created to rally Kenyans for demos at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi as members of parliament prepare to debate and vote on the bill.

The opinionated Honeyfarsafi’s tweets are the most visible on the #OccupyParliament hashtag.

Kenyans trooped into Nairobi’s CBD as early as 8 AM to match to Parliament Buildings where the Finance Bill 2024 proceedings will take place.

 

 

 

 

Dramatic Honeyfarsafi arrest by police

 

As the #OccupyParliament demos gathered momentum, uniformed and plainclothes police arrived in town to counter the protests.

Their first target was the outspoken Honeyfarsafi who was outside the Kenya National Archives building making her way to Parliament Road.

A viral video making rounds on social media shows one officer snatching a bag from the female activist before they bundled her into a waiting police vehicle.

Clad in a t-shirt with anti-regime graffiti, Hanifa obliged and was placed under arrest alongside other protesters.

 

 

 

 

‘Honeyfarsafi revolution’ at the Central Police Station

Following the chaotic arrest, Honeyfarsafi and her comrades were driven and booked at Nairobi’s Central Police Station.

Bloggers, journalists, and lawyers followed in hot pursuit. Meanwhile, Hanifa was still tweeting from police custody.

Below are some of her tweets that further inspired protesters to ‘occupy’ the parliament buildings:

1. 1. “We have been arrested but don’t let them get to you please proceed to parliament.”
   2. “They can’t arrest everyone !!!!”

 

The arrest, however, appeared to be a spectacular failure as more videos surfaced of Hanifa and her fellow detainees singing inside police cells.

A parallel movement “Free Hanifa” also kicked off on social media to mobilize legal and material assistance to Hanifa and her fellow protesters.

 

Finance Bill 2024 tax proposals dropped by Finance and National Planning Committee

The running battles between police and protesters seem to have paid early dividends if the latest press conference at State House Nairobi is anything to go by.

As protesters marched along Kimathi Street and other CBD locations, members of the Kenya Kwanza Parliamentary Group addressed a presser.

In the press conference, the members announced the following developments to the controversial Finance Bill 2024:

1. 1. Removal of the 2.5% motor vehicle tax.
   2. VAT on bread and transportation of sugar have been removed.
   3. Removal of the tax on mobile and foreign exchange transactions.
   4. Introduction of excise duty on imported eggs to protect local farmers.
   5. Locally manufactured products such as sanitary towels, diapers, and phones will not attract Eco Levy.

 

 

 

Sharon Arwa and Gen Z’s digital activism

The #OccupyParliament and #RejectFinanceBill2024 demos have largely been viewed as a political debut for young Kenyans popularly known as Gen Z.

Riveting videos of Gen Z singing while holding cameras in police cells, as well as Finance Bill analysis videos on TikTok, have taken over the internet.

Young TikTokers such as Sharon Arwa have received accolades for their rare show of political consciousness.

In her recent trending TikTok video that has attracted thousands of viewers, Sharon exposes the loopholes in Kenya’s public expenditure.

She points out possible misuse of funds including the scandalous KES 800 million confidential expenditure and KES 600 million for renovation of the Deputy President’s residence in Karen.

 

 

The recent events in Nairobi have left egg on the face of a senior government advisor who had previously dismissed Gen Z’s political awareness.

In an earlier tweet, the advisor working at the Economic Advisory Council had suggested that politics is a contact sport and digital activism is a waste of time.