The police have clarified the situation regarding the Uganda police fire truck, registered as UP 9596, which was captured on video in Nakuru, Kenya during the ongoing protests in the East African nation.
The police refute claims that the truck had been deployed, stating that the driver was simply driving it back to Uganda from Kenya.
According to the police, the fire truck belongs to the Masaka CPS Fire and Rescue Department, but it developed a mechanical problem in April 2024 and was transported to Nairobi, Kenya by Isuzu Uganda for repairs.
However, on June 21, as the fire truck was being driven back to Uganda, its driver encountered several protesters in Nakuru who recorded it during transit.
“The fire truck driver proceeded and entered Uganda, and was captured on CCTV at Busitema at 11:49 am, en route to Masaka via Kampala,” said the police.
They added, “The accusations that the Uganda Police deployed a fire-fighting truck in the recent spate of protests in Kenya are false and misleading. Our counterparts, the Kenyan Police, know that we have nothing to do with the protests.”
Meanwhile, the Kenya Finance Bill protests, known by the movement’s hashtag #RejectFinanceBill2024, are a series of ongoing decentralized mass protests in Kenya against a proposed tax increase by the Government of Kenya in Parliament. It is being largely led by Gen Z Kenyans.
