Showdown Looms as Police Declare Azimio Protests in Nairobi Illegal

Police have banned the planned anti-government protests by the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition in Nairobi on Tuesday.

Speaking during a media briefing on Sunday, Nairobi Regional Police Commander Adamson Bungei acknowledged that the opposition submitted a notice to hold demonstrations in the streets of Nairobi.

However, Bungei said the Raila Odinga-led political outfit will not be allowed to hold the protests, claiming they have failed to demonstrate goodwill in previous demonstrations.

The police commander noted that the opposition did not meet the threshold of peaceful protests stipulated in Section 37 of the constitution and Section 5 of the Public Order Act.

"As much as you are allowed by article 37 (to protest) there is also subsection 5 of the same that allows the police to regulate the same procession," he said. 

"Assemblies which are not peaceful are excluded from protection of the article. Once you do not meet the requirements of section 5 then we have the mandate to ensure that it is regulated and managed."

He added that previous demonstrations were marred with violence as the demonstrators were armed with machetes and attacked members of the public, resulting in the destruction of public property and loss of lives.

"By this, we are declining to allow the Azimio team the go-ahead to proceed with the demonstration and any such demonstration will be dispersed by law enforcement officers. This indicates very clearly to Kenyans of goodwill that there will be no demonstrations in the city of Nairobi."

Azimio announced it would resume weekly protests, citing the Kenya Kwanza administration’s failure to commit to holding constructive bipartisan talks.