Police ban protests in Nairobi

By Peter Ochieng

The National Police Service (NPS) has banned demonstrations within the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD), until further notice.

Acting Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja in a statement on Wednesday night, said they decided to ban protests, owing to loss of lives and property witnessed during the four weeks of youth-led demonstrations against President William Ruto's Kenya Kwanza administration.

The youth who have been turning up for the protests, Kanja said, have no leader making police to lack someone to coordinate with in terms of ensuring peaceful demonstrations.

“Acting on this information and in accordance with international security standards for public assemblies, which require a designated leader to coordinate, collaborate and cooperate with police for peaceful demonstrations, the lack of designated leadership in previous demonstrations has made it difficult to enforce safety protocols," said Kanja who took over last week, after the resignation of Japhet Koome.

The acting police boss said they are privy to information indicating that criminal elements have been taking advantage of the protests to loot businesses and destabilise the country's security.

“In keeping with our Constitutional role and in the interest of national security, we wish to inform the public that we have credible intelligence that organized criminal groups are planning to take advantage of the ongoing pretests to execute their attacks including looting."

"As a result, no demonstrations will be permitted in the Nairobi Central Business District and its surroundings until further notice to ensure public safety," he added.

According to posters which did rounds on social media for the better part of Wednesday, youth, popularly known as Gen-Zs and millennials were up for another round of street protests today, in what was termed as "Occupy Uhuru Park."

The youth have described themselves as leaderless, tribeless and party-less.