Protesters warned against marching to JKIA

By Peter Ochieng

Acting Police Inspector General (IG) Douglas Kanja has warned protesters against marching to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) during Tuesday’s protests.

Kanja said JKIA is a protected area, adding that no one will be allowed to access the airport without permission. “Going to JKIA if you have not been given permission is not allowed, that is a protected area. I would like to remind Kenyans that we only have one country and we should take care of it,” said Kanja.

“For the avoidance of doubt, JKIA is listed as a protected area,” he added.

His stern warning comes as Kenyan youth, popularly known as Gen-Zs return to the streets for another round of demonstrations against President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration.

They are calling for ‘occupation’ of key installations including JKIA, on the backdrop of reports that Ruto’s administration has handed the airport’s management to unnamed foreign investors, for 30 years.

Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka, appearing on Citizen TV Day Break show on Tuesday morning stated that the ‘JKIA deal’ is bad for the country.

“We are signing off our airport to be run by a private company for 30 years and after the contract expires, they will keep the equity of our airport at the rate of 18 per cent. Why would anyone sign such an agreement?” posed the Senator.

The Senator said he had gotten the information from unnamed Kenyan whistleblower working in France.

Businesses across Nairobi's Industrial Area, and some parts of the country have come to a halt as a result of the anticipated anti-government protests.

Uniformed police officers are out patrolling various parts of the Capital, Nairobi, and across the country.

Meanwhile, the National Assembly is expected to reconvene at 230pm, following a short recess.

There are growing calls online for the occupation of Parliament buildings, as was the case on June 25 when protesters breached Parliament.