Kenyan celebrities, influencers join 'Occupy Parliament' protests

As ordinary Kenyans hit the streets in solidarity with the 'Occupy Parliament' protest organizers, several notable names also came out to make their stand known and faces seen.

Top Kenyan celebrities, not content with merely pushing hashtags on social media, also decided to come to town, intent on registering their displeasure with the punitive Finance Bill, 2024.

Legendary singer-songwriter Atemi Oyungu, pop artist Charisma and content creator Jackie Matubia were among the renowned faces who showed up in the streets of Nairobi, protesting alongside everyday Kenyans and sharing their experiences online.

Popular influencer Murugi Munyi and veteran musician Dan 'Chizi' Aceda also made an appearance - Munyi would later be arrested alongside tens of other protestors.

Narrating her unpleasant experience at the protests, Oyungu revealed that she had been repeatedly teargassed as she attempted to hide between the streets.

"We were so boxed in. Hiding and coming out only to be teargassed again. Si these people could have just allowed us to walk? We weren’t destroying property. We had given ample notice. Get my second dose of teargas after this!" she tweeted.

The 'Bebi Bebi' hitmaker also revealed that as she was choking in the teargas fumes, a stranger came to her aid, helping her to breathe.

"A very kind man came to my aid when I was choking in the tear gas. I wasn’t expecting it because we hadn’t even started. He helped me breathe and gave me water. Thank you sir…whoever you were..." she wrote.

Jackie Matubia too was teargassed - the actress shared a video of the experience, appearing to be overwhelmed by the toxic gas, her eyes all watery.

She wrote: "Mimi nimzalendo leo nimekula teargas. I did it for everyone who couldn't do it. May our voices as the youth of this country be heard."

As for Dan Aceda, the Benga musician revealed that he, too, was briefly arrested but was then released shortly after.

"After that pic nimekuwa  kidogo under state management but tena niko nje. Wamenikula teke jamo though...At least nime enjoy my taxes hapo kidogo," he wrote.

For the better part of Tuesday, Kenyans engaged police in running battles all around the Nairobi CBD as the Occupy Parliament protests gathered steam.

Within hours, the police had arrested a significant amount of protesters many of whom were taken to the Central Police Station. They include activists Hanifa Adan and Njeri wa Migwi.