Amid ongoing nationwide protests and escalating violence, Members of Parliament (MPs) are retreating into hiding to avoid the wrath of angry citizens.
This unprecedented silence from the legislative arm of the government comes in the wake of the controversial passing of the Finance Bill, 2024, which has incited public outrage and led to widespread unrest.
The country has been gripped by chaos, with businesses paralyzed and police clashing with demonstrators. The MPs, who voted for the Finance Bill before going into recess, now face public ire for their decision.
According to sources, over 20 homes and businesses belonging to MPs have been attacked by irate mobs. Many MPs have relocated their families from rural homes and abandoned their vehicles to evade protesters.
Murang'a Women Representative Betty Maina and her husband Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi have expressed their concerns to The Standard.
Betty has revealed she has 2,000 beehives ready for distribution to youth groups but has been unable to proceed due to threats.
"They said they don’t want us in church yet we have been born and raised at the church," she lamented, recounting how she had to worship in private with her husband, Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi.
Nominated MP Sabina Chege highlighted the fear and caution among her colleagues. "Our families are now being targeted because we voted for the Finance Bill. It is unfortunate that they are bearing the brunt of this anger," she told The Standard. Chege emphasized that MPs and the President are not infallible and called for a cooling-off period to allow tempers to subside.
Despite calls for the National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula to recall Parliament to address the crisis, Chege argued that the issue no longer pertains to the legislative body.
"We did our part and the President withdrew the Bill. We just need to give people time to relax because they are unreasonable and the more you talk the more you make things worse," she said.
Nyeri Town MP Dancun Mathenge echoed similar sentiments, acknowledging the volatility of the situation. "You can’t approach a charged bull. It will strike you. We have to let the anger cool before we can engage with our constituents," he remarked.