Kenya’s parliament invasion: MPs saved by protesters against the finance bill

The MP, who is also a bishop in an evangelical church, was uncertain of what would happen to him as he had voted in favour of the disputed bill.

But the protesters did not hurt the legislators and instead they helped them to move to a safer area where they were later evacuated out of the building.

“They knew who I am and even knew how I had voted,” said Mr Kosgei.

“But they told me that I was a good man and asked me to allow them to escort me out of the building because what would happen might not be good for me.”

The parliamentary invaders even offered to get him a taxi: “They asked me whether I needed an Uber but I showed them where I wanted to stay as I knew that outside parliament was not safe.”

Ms Museo concurred, saying the altruistic attitude of the protesters came as a surprise.

They addressed the two MPs, who by this stage were in the private members lounge, telling them that they meant no harm and were only agitating for what they believed was right.

“They were holding my hands, they told me: ‘Our problem was the finance bill’ – and not us,” Ms Museo said.

She admitted it was still a “terrifying ordeal”.

“But they were not harmful at all, they were very kind to me. They told me: ‘You are our mother and we cannot hurt you.'”

Mr Kosgei thanked the protesters for “saving my life and that of Ms Museo when everyone ran away”.

“Even in the moment of anger and stress, they still had humanity in them,” he said.

Millie Odhiambo, an MP known for not mincing her words, told a local newspaper she believed the protesters were just using the disabled MPs as human shields against a possible attack by police officers.

But Ms Museo said there was no police presence at the time the protesters were helping her.

She added that she did not blame her colleagues for fleeing as everyone had been justifiably frightened by the invasion.

The lawmakers led by Speaker Moses Wetang’ula were whisked away through the tunnel which connects the debating chambers for the senate and national assembly to a new wing where MPs’ officers are located.

The office section of the building is known as the Bunge Towers and was opened in April.