A week following the online leak of phone numbers belonging to Kenyan government officials by unidentified individuals, the notorious hacker collective Anonymous has issued a threat to reveal “corrupt dealings of members of parliament (MPs)” should they proceed to approve the 2024 Finance Bill slated for a vote on Thursday.
Anonymous, established in 2003, is an activist group that champions “mass awareness and revolution against corrupt entities,” while striving to keep its members’ identities concealed. The group has previously been associated with orchestrating Distributed Denial Of Service (DDoS) attacks against government websites in Tunisia and Zimbabwe.
The group issued a stark warning to Kenyan MPs via platform X, suggesting that it could unveil confidential information to demonstrate the alleged corruption and malfeasance of parliamentarians, accusing them of misappropriating public funds for personal enrichment.
The proposed 2024 Finance Bill has been met with widespread criticism, particularly for its suggested tax increases on essential items such as bread and sanitary products. The Kenyan populace, already grappling with soaring living costs, has voiced concerns that the new taxes would exacerbate their financial hardships.
Online dissent against the bill quickly escalated into physical protests, reminiscent of the 2023 demonstrations over living costs, as hundreds of Kenyans tried to storm the Parliament in Nairobi. Proponents of the bill within the parliament claim that the most controversial taxes, including those on motor vehicles and eco-tax, have been eliminated from the proposal.
Nevertheless, a faction of MPs and the Anonymous Group are advocating for the complete dismissal of the bill. Anonymous conveyed their stance on platform X, stating, “We do not want you to amend the Finance Bill; we want you to reject it.”
This past Tuesday saw a surge of protests led by the youth across the nation. Demonstrations have spread to other key cities such as Kisumu, Mombasa, and Eldoret, the latter being a stronghold of President William Ruto. Security forces have cordoned off the parliamentary buildings in Nairobi, which are the focal point of the second wave of #OccupyParliament protests.
The parliamentary debate on the Finance Bill resumed on Thursday morning, with amendments expected by the afternoon and a vote required before the evening. The MPs are set to deliberate and cast their votes on the proposed amendments during the third reading on June 25.
1 Comment
Pingback: Kenyan government agencies in the crosshairs of alleged Chinese cyber espionage - Innovation Village | Technology, Product Reviews, Business