Finance Bill 2024: The Hypocrisy Of Civil Society

The last few days have seen Kenyans on X discuss the finance bill that is set to be put to a vote in parliament tomorrow.

Though its not clear if those opposing or supporting it have read the bill, knowing Kenyans, many are relying on the media, politicians, activists and political
bloggers to know what the bill contains.

In a recent facebook post, Senator Gloria Orwoba is on record chastising Kenyans, especially professionals on regurgitating propaganda on the bill without reading it. Her post was in response to bloggers and Kenyans online claiming that the bill will tax sanitary towels, something she says is untrue.

In an attempt to oppose the passing of the bill, allegations of paid activism have been made by various X accounts challenging organizers of a protest that is meant to take place tomorrow at Parliament buildings.

The Kenya Insights has information of alleged millions changing hands between Civil Society organizations and two key mobilizers of the protest.

The source who sought anonymity
alleges a meeting was held at 3pm yesterday and those present were not informed about the money.

It is common knowledge within civil society that many protests organised have to have a budget to mobilise people from informal settlement to attend. The costs range from sh 200 to sh 500 per person. However, even after the release of the funds, the protestors who will attend tomorrows protest will not see a coin of the millions. They have been convinced to volunteer.

The source also claims there was an attempt to physically harm one of the organisers, Boniface Mwangi in the last occupy parliament protest when a crowd he had promised money descended on him during the protest. The young men threatened to stab Boniface for not keeping his promise to pay them the ksh 500 agreed in a previous protest.

If these allegations are true, then it points to the
Hypocrisy of civil society. Are they perhaps still aggrieved by the loss of their preferred candidate Raila Odinga in the last election where they went to the extent of producing fake evidence that was declared null and void by the
Supreme court?

If true the alleged millions were handed to the key organisers, isn’t it fair to pay the poor people who will come to protest? Why take advantage of the poor who truly want to protest a bill they have been told Will oppress them for personal gain?