NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 30 – Security has been beefed up within and outside the Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) ahead of the Azimio demonstrations.
A spot check by Capital FM News saw several lorries full of anti-riot police officers patrolling the City and some strategically walking around Ngong Road and other roads leading to the CBD.
Opposition Leader Raila Odinga on Wednesday said that the Azimio La Umoja Coalition demonstrations pushing for the lowering of the high cost of living and election reforms will be peaceful warning those attempting to characterize them with chaos.
“Our demonstrations will be peaceful, and we are asking those who are trying to disrupt them to desist in the name of our Lord,” Odinga said.
The government has already declared the weekly Monday and Thursday protests illegal and vowed to deal with those who will infringe on other people’s rights.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki is set to issue new policy directives to Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome Friday that will ensure public safety during demonstrations.
The policy directives will guide the arrest and prosecution of those that destroy private property during protests, and the protection of private businesses, including those facing attacks and those that suspect they might be targets for attack.
He said that the policy drives which shall take effect on March 31 2023, shall specify the provision of security to all persons whose private property has been violated and looted during the protests and to any other person with established, well-founded fear or apprehension that their property is or may be the target of violation, destruction or looting.
“The current portrait of anarchy, and the unfolding criminal madness must stop. Only firm enforcement of the law stands between us and lawlessness and full-blown chaos. Any aggravation of the prevailing situation would certainly set back the Country. We must halt the descent,” he said Wednesday.
On two occasions in the last fortnight, Nairobi and Kisumu cities have witnessed widespread violence, looting and invasion of private property by hordes of criminals masquerading as either political protesters or persons aggrieved by historical land injustices.
The policy will also see the investigations and accountability of all persons found to have committed criminal acts against any person or the property of any person during the demonstrations.
He went on to say that all streets, estates and neighborhoods in Nairobi, Kisumu and any other place where there are reasonable grounds to believe that violent protests may erupt in the future be provided with round-the-clock security to ensure that law abiding persons go about their activities without intimidation, threats or disruption of their daily activities.
