NAIROBI, Kenya- A public participation forum on Kenya’s 2026/2027 national budget hosted by the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) at All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi was on Friday disrupted by a group of suspected goons, forcing police to intervene and fire warning shots into the air to restore order.
Witnesses said the group stormed the venue while discussions on the proposed budget were underway, causing panic among participants.
Several attendees reported attempts by the attackers to snatch mobile phones and intimidate members of the public taking part in the forum.
The disruption briefly halted the meeting as participants scrambled for safety while security officers moved in to contain the situation.
Police officers deployed at the scene fired in the air to disperse the rowdy group after tensions escalated around the cathedral grounds. No immediate reports of serious injuries were confirmed.
The forum had been convened to collect views from citizens on the government’s proposed spending plans ahead of the presentation and debate of the 2026/2027 budget in Parliament.
Public participation is a constitutional requirement in Kenya’s budget-making process and is intended to allow citizens to contribute to national policy and expenditure priorities.
The incident adds to growing concerns over disruptions of civic and public engagement events in the country.
In recent months, rights groups, including KHRC, have raised alarm over what they describe as increasing attacks on lawful public gatherings by organized groups of youths.
KHRC has previously accused authorities of failing to adequately protect constitutional freedoms of assembly, expression and public participation, while warning against the use of violence and intimidation to silence dissenting voices.
The All Saints Cathedral venue has recently hosted several public forums on the Finance Bill and budget proposals, bringing together civil society organizations, economists, lawmakers and members of the public to discuss government fiscal policies.
