CHAOS IN MERU: Imenti North MP Rahim Dawood Flees Furious Fuel Hike Protesters

A dramatic video has gone viral across Kenya capturing the moment Imenti North Member of Parliament, Rahim Dawood, was forced to run for his life after a highly charged crowd turned violent during protests over skyrocketing fuel prices.

The incident occurred on Monday afternoon in the Makutano area of Meru Town. According to eyewitnesses and video footage circulating online, the legislator had initially joined the local demonstrators peacefully as they marched from the town center.

However, the atmosphere shifted drastically when MP Dawood took a microphone from organizers to address the aggrieved citizens.
As he attempted to calm the crowd and deliver his remarks, a wave of hostility swept through the gathering.

The situation rapidly escalated into violence when an angry protester standing next to the lawmaker slapped him, sparking instant chaos.

Witnesses reported that the enraged crowd began pelting the MP with stones, accusing him of betraying the public by voting in favor of the contentious 2024 Finance Bill, which many blame for the current economic hardship.

“Rahim arrived peacefully with the demonstrators, but when he tried to speak, the people revolted. They started throwing stones at him, shouting that he supported the oppressive finance bill,” an anonymous witness recounted.

Security personnel acted swiftly to rescue the cornered lawmaker, whisking him away to safety into a waiting vehicle. Fortunately, despite the barrage of flying stones, the MP escaped without sustaining injuries.

Prior to the attack, Dawood had spoken to journalists, expressing his solidarity with the struggling citizens and urging the government to convene an emergency parliamentary session to lower fuel taxes.

The anti-fuel hike protests heavily paralyzed transport and business activities across Meru Town, as major highways were barricaded with burning tires, even blocking medical staff from accessing the Meru Level Five Hospital.