Amid the escalating nationwide protests, top MPs from the Mt Kenya region, including Murang’a Women Representative Betty Maina, Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi, and Nominated MP Sabina Chege, have been forced into hiding.
They join a growing list of legislators avoiding public exposure due to the public’s fury over the Finance Bill, 2024.
These MPs, along with several others, have retreated to undisclosed locations as violent protests paralyze the country.
Murang’a Women Representative Betty Maina expressed her concerns, revealing 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. She recounted 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.