Dramatic Scenes as William Ruto Whisked Away from Angry Protesters

On Monday, June 24, the national dailies widely reported on the ongoing anti-Finance Bill 2024 protests across the country.

Top stories in newspapers today: Photo: The Standard/Daily Nation. Source: UGC

The dailies also highlighted the dramatic scenes witnessed in Nyahururu, where President William Ruto attended a church service.

1. Daily Nation

The publication reported on the drama that unfolded in Nyahururu after a group of anti-finance bill protesters forced police to sneak President William Ruto out of a church venue.

The president, his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, and other Kenya Kwanza leaders attended a church service at Ndururi Primary School in Nyahururu town on Sunday, June 23.

However, at the end of the service, Ruto and other leaders fled the venue to avoid a confrontation with the protesters who had camped outside the school.

The Kenya Kwanza leaders, caught off guard, were seen running in all directions as they tried to locate their cars, forcing some of them to jump into any available vehicle.

The MPs were left confused after discovering that Ruto had been hurriedly whisked away by the presidential escort team.

Ruto was just about to leave when the youths started shouting 'Ruto Must Go' and Reject the Fnance Bill', forcing his security detail to sneak him out of the venue.

At one point, the chanting protesters overpowered the police to gain access to the school playground as they sought an audience with the head of state, but the president, who was brief in his address to the church, slipped out of the venue in confusion.

2. The Star

The paper reported on the arrest of Attorney General Justin Muturi's son, Lesley Muturi, by people believed to be police officers.

Confirming the incident, Embakasi West MP and National Assembly Deputy Minority Whip Mark Mwenje claimed he witnessed the hijacking.

According to Mwenje, he was following Lesley before men dressed in black and combat hijacked his car, pulled him out of the vehicle, and drove off with him.

"My friend Lesley Muturi, son of Justin Muturi, AG, has just been hijacked by the police here on the road. I was the one following him. This is his car. The police have taken him. We are here, and we are going to find you guys," Mwenje said.

A family spokesman later disclosed that Lesley was released after hours of questioning in the ATPU offices in Upper Hill.

3. The Standard

In a change of heart, President William Ruto expressed his willingness to engage the Generation Z protesters.

Speaking in Nyahururu on Sunday, June 23, the head of state lauded the youths for expressing their feeling through the anti-finance bill demonstrations.

Ruto said that he is proud that the young people have stepped forward tribeless and peacefully to be counted, and his administration will engage them on their concerns.

The president insisted that, his government would work with young people to build a better country.

"Our young people have stepped forward to engage in the affairs of their country. They have done a democratic duty to stand and be recognised, and I want to tell you that we are going to have a conversation with you so that we can identify your issues and we can work together as a nation and streamline your issues. I am very proud of our young people. They have stepped forward tribeless, they have stepped forward peacefully," Ruto said.

4. Taifa Leo

The Swahili publication reported on the arrest of former NTV journalist Salim Swaleh in a related probe.

Salim, who works as the director of press services at the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs (OPCS-MFDA) Musalia Mudavadi, was arrested alongside other government officials.

Detectives arrested alleged fraudsters who had been masquerading as government officials and easily made their way into and out of his office.

Those arrested allegedly used the office to con unsuspecting foreign nationals.

“The surveillance was able to also track and identify their co-conspirators, among them government officers who facilitated their dastardly activities. Those arrested include Salim Swaleh, Director of OPCS Press Service, in whose office the swindlers were found nested with fake door switch-nametags,” part of the statement read.