A bill is passed into law in the Parliament not on the streets. How can citizens influence this bills to their favour? How effective is it when citizens protest against a bill being passed and lives are even lost? As In the case of 29 year old Rex Kanyike Masai, he died recently when Kenyan police shot live bullets multiple times at protesters on the streets of Kenya, the anti-tax protest was described as peaceful.
A protest is an effective and legitimate tool, usually the only tool that citizens can use to express their displeasure concerning some government measures or policies publicly.
Young Kenyans were not reluctant to come out to ask for what needed to be done, they kept protesting even after 16% value-added tax on bread and a new annual tax on motor vehicles were removed from the legislation, they insisted on the total rejection of the budget legislation.
In different instances across Africa, protesters have being shot at and killed. Asking for a change in policies that doesn’t favour the people really doesn’t have to lead to loss of lives even if there is a puppet master behind the scenes controlling things. Your young is yours and nobody else’s. No nation grows by killing her young. So what can be done to avoid a protest from becoming violent?
First, make sure to plan, wear uniform t-shirts or tags, put logistics in place and ensure everyone involved knows the goal of the protest and provision is made for it to be broadcast live either on traditional or social media, preferably social media.
Carry out your protests during the day time. Avoid night protests as much as possible.
Second, public hearing also known as public inquiries are typically organized as a way to gather public opinions and concerns on political issues before a legislature, agency, or organization makes a decision or takes action but the public’s opinion are usually not reflected in the final decision as the agency or organization is not required to base their decision on the views and issues presented at the hearing. Attend all thesame and be very present at such hearings, clearly, boldly and loudly express your issues and concerns. Ensure this is broadcast as well, remember the Internet does not forget.
On the Kenyan protest, report reaching us is that Kenyan police are to investigate the violence that broke out on Thursday during protests against planned tax hikes with rights groups accusing security forces of using live rounds to quell the rallies.
Governments across Africa need to do better when it comes to protests, killing your own should not be part of the game, it is not only crude but inhuman. This leads to asking the question; who gave the order to kill the end sars protesters in Nigeria, should there still be immunity for former leaders and presidents out of office? Cases like this should be thoroughly investigated and guilty parties face the law to serve as detterent to everyone across the continent.
