Kenyans in the US Hold Peaceful Protest at Washington Embassy

Chants of “bado mapambano” filled the air outside the Kenyan embassy in Washington, USA, as a group of Kenyan citizens gathered to reject the proposed Finance Bill 2024.

Last week, a notice of the protest circulated online, urging Kenyans abroad to join the march in solidarity with events happening in Nairobi.

A video of the peaceful protest, shared by Noel James on Instagram, showed groups holding banners and the Kenyan flag while singing the popular demonstration song. The embassy’s entrance doors remained shut, with US police standing nearby.

“We are here to reject the finance bill. We’ve seen Kenyans protest in Kenya, and this is the beginning of the next generation,” one man told VOA in an interview. Several other Kenyans also spoke to the media, expressing their outrage at the proposed tax amendments:

• “We will also be occupying other embassies and anywhere there is a Kenyan embassy.”
• “My name is Valentine, and I’m here to stand with Kenyans back at home against this draconian Finance Bill.”
• “We want to tell Kenyans back home that tuko pamoja,” a woman said.
• “The reason I’m protesting out here today is that you are not leaving the young people in Kenya anything. This is their birthright. This Finance Bill is bringing death. We do not want this Finance Bill; we want it rejected,” a man shared his opinion.
• “My name is Kevin, and I’m here to reject the Finance Bill. We are here to keep the fire burning,” he told the broadcaster.