Kenyan Police on Tuesday, February 21 arrested comedian Eric Omondi and other protesters for attempting to forcibly access Parliament during cost of living protests. Omondi had led a group of well-built men in protesting against the skyrocketing cost of living. According to Kenyan media, the placard-waving bare-chested men chanted as they made their way to Parliament buildings demanding an audience with Speaker Moses Wetang'ula. The group sat across Parliament road, obstructing traffic, as they sang songs to rally youth not to sleep on their laurels in the face of a struggle for better living conditions. Welcome aboard Eric Omondi...more people will join our movement of change ... cost of living too high, Narok Senator Ledama Olekina said in a tweet following the protest. The group was, however, dispersed by police using tear gas as they attempted to storm Parliament buildings. The attempted forceful entry was prompted by the failure of the speaker to grant the group audience from within the precincts of Parliament. Some of the protesters, including Omondi, were bundled in a police van and driven away after a brief scuffle. The group has since been charged with unlawful assembly. They denied the charge and were released on a Sh20,000 bond or an alternative cash bail of Sh10,000. Through their lawyer Danstan Omari, they had asked for lenient bail terms.
