Tensions flared in Mombasa on Thursday after two prominent human rights activists were arrested for interrupting a public forum on the controversial 2025 Finance Bill.
The incident occurred at Tononoka Hall, where officials from the National Assembly Budget Committee were holding public consultations on the proposed national budget estimates.
The session, part of the public participation process, turned chaotic when the two activists reportedly attempted to stop the proceedings.
Those arrested have been identified as Mathias Shipeta of Haki Africa and Francis Sauma from the Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI) organisation.
Eyewitnesses say the pair entered the venue and raised objections over the meeting’s timing, claiming it was inappropriate to hold such a critical session during the Eid al-Adha holiday when many citizens were unable to attend.
Their protest was swiftly met with a heavy police response. Officers at the scene restrained the activists and forcefully escorted them out, placing them in a police vehicle.The two are now being held at Tononoka Police Station and are expected to appear in court on Monday.
The arrests have sparked mixed reactions online, with some Kenyans supporting the activists’ stance on inclusivity and timing, while others criticised the disruption of a legal public forum.
Human rights groups are now calling for the immediate release of the two, accusing authorities of suppressing dissent.
Meanwhile, the Finance Bill hearings continue across the country amid growing public scrutiny and political tension ahead of the 2025 budget debate.
By Kenyans