Lifestyle
#RejectFinanceBill2024 Maandamano: Here Are Some Steps To Take To Remain Safe During The Kenyan Protests
On June 18th, 2024, Kenyans first occupied the capital and other major towns in the country to protest against the government’s punitive finance bill. The movement listed the key issues Kenyans have with the bill, most notably, extravagant IMF loans, government overspending, unconstitutional offices, lack of functional amenities, poor service delivery, and police brutality.
As Kenyans have exercised their democratic right to protest the government, its violent response has led to at least 59 deaths, according to the Kenya National Human Rights Commission. In addition, the police have also caused over 400 casualties, including journalists, over 600 people have been detained and 60 abducted or missing in connection to the protests.
It’s certainly clear that while Kenyans have a constitutional right to gather and protest, their safety isn’t guaranteed. Not only do unarmed protesters get harmed, but individuals allegedly hired by government officials have been attacking businesses in an attempt to delegitimize protests. Kenyans are more galvanized than ever against the government. Even after the president’s remarks on July 21st telling protesters that “enough is enough”, Kenyans have collectively made their demands clear. As more protests are scheduled throughout the country, protesters will need to prioritize their safety.
How to stay safe during protests
1. Health and safety hazards
The first thing you must do when participating in any peaceful march is to research it. Organizers will share routes that have been designated by authorities. If the goal of the march is to a specific building, see which roads are available towards the building. Some may have a higher police presence than others. Map an escape route in case countermeasures to the protest turn violent or unsafe. Learn where first aid tents and health services are available during the protests. Organisations like the Red Cross, St John’s Ambulance, or volunteer medics establish stations to help anyone injured during the protests.
Don’t stop to chat or engage in long hugs with other protesters. Ensure you always stay moving. Staying in one place in the middle of a moving crowd increases the risk of falling and being stepped over. When talking to the press, ensure you do it outside the protest zone. If you’re there to document the protests, try to find an elevated area to take pictures. Members of the press sometimes have designated areas where they can remain safe. However, this can also lead to easy targeting. When the risk heightens, the International Federation of Journalists suggests removing any identifiable press material and wearing clothes that distinguish you from the police or armed forces.
Ensure you wear a hat if walking in the sun and take breaks in the shade to avoid sunburn or heatstroke. Remember to apply sunscreen on your nose, forehead, neck, ears and arms. Your clothes should also be loosely fitted and made of materials that don’t burn easily.
Hydration is also important. Stop to drink water every half hour and whenever you feel thirsty. Carry food with you or eat enough before joining the march.
2. What to do about teargas
When you’re sprayed with teargas, let your tears run. Don’t try to wipe your face immediately, this can lead to increased irritation. Instead, tilt your head sideways and rinse your eyes with clean water. According to Drexel University, you can also use diluted baby shampoo to clean your face and reduce irritation. Don’t try to use milk or any other agents to neutralize the teargas. When a tear gas canister is shot, run upwind of it.
Other home remedies you can use to reduce the effects of tear gas are toothpaste and baking soda. Applying toothpaste around the mouth and eyes can reduce the pain for a short while but you still need to rinse your face as soon as possible.
Ideally, you should carry safety goggles, balaclavas, masks, and scarves to protect your hair and face from teargas. The glasses should be shatterproof and the masks with industrial-level protection. If these aren’t available, sports goggles can also be helpful. Don’t wear contact lenses. Use your prescription glasses because they don’t trap tear gas in the cornea. You should also blow your nose as soon as you can to remove any contaminants.
Don’t touch the canister after it’s shot. It’s usually hot and could lead to burns. Try not to panic. This will make you inhale the gases faster.
3. How to stay safe from projectiles
Carry your supplies in a backpack that you can use as a shield from rocks, water cannons, and rubber bullets. You can also wear a motorbike back protector to reduce the risk of impact from rubber bullets. When law enforcement starts using ammunition, take cover behind stone buildings.
Water cannons can also contain irritants. If you find yourself in the path of one, turn and cover your nose and mouth so that you don’t breathe in the fluids.
4. Buddy system
To ensure you keep track of your fellow protesters, ensure you have a buddy system. In the event of separation, have a place and time to rendezvous to make sure everyone is safe. Share your location with your friends and support systems at home to keep track of your movements. It may be unsafe to leave your location on in the event of government tracking. However, sending notifications every time you move to a new area can make sure your friends know where you are.
You can also share your location using apps like Find My Friend on iOS or LocateMate on Android. WhatsApp also allows users to share their live location for as long as the GPS, internet connection and app are active. WhatsApp is double-end encrypted and may be the safest way to send your location information. Signal and Telegram are also secure. You can share your location on Facebook and Instagram but they can be accessed by third parties. Try not to march alone.
Turn on your VPN before attending marches to reduce the risk of being traced. A virtual private network also makes it easier to search various topics that could be censored or shadowbanned by the authorities. Social media sites may also be limited and VPNs can help you circumvent a geoblocking.
5. Identifications
In case you get injured and unconscious, have identification and emergency contact information on you. Keep a card with essential information and make it easily accessible on your person. It should have the following:
- Phone numbers of emergency contacts
- Blood type
- National ID or any identifying document with your name
6. In the event of arrest or going missing
Protesters can be arrested and detained by the police even if they are doing nothing wrong. When you find yourself arrested, the Law Society of Kenya states that you shouldn’t resist arrest or react violently towards the arresting officer. Notify the LSK toll-free line 0800720434 and an emergency contact. Note your name, where you were arrested, and the police station you’ve been taken to and send it to the Defenders Kenya phone number 0716200100. You can also shout your names for the other protestors to note so that they know who was taken.
If someone you know goes missing, contact human rights organizations like Haki Afrika at 0755000555 or Defenders Kenya at 0716200100, or the Kenya Human Rights Commission at 0722264497.
You can also report a missing person on this missing person’s website. Make sure to do it as soon as possible.
7. Key hashtags to follow
The protests have been ongoing for a month and evolved from rejecting the finance bill to demanding better services and accountability from the government or the president’s resignation. Some hashtags to follow to keep up with the protests are:
Check out:
Opinion: In Defense Of Protests And Resistance
Opinion: Abolition Now – Why We Should All Say ‘No More Police’