Government to charge Nasa CEO for rowdy protests in Nairobi

NASA anti-IEBC protest in Homa Bay town on Monday, October 9 (JAMES OMORO)

NAIROBI, KENYA: Acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i on Thursday outlawed demonstrations in Kisumu, Nairobi, and Mombasa Central Business District.

The order follows a meeting of the national security advisory committee on Thursday morning which relied on recent demonstrations which resulted to a breach of peace and disorder in the mentioned locations.

He said Inspector General of Police has been advised accordingly to bar demonstrators from reaching the areas. “And with with powers assigned to me I will also be gazetting expected conduct during demonstrations,” Matiangi said

The CS also warned the organisers of such demonstration of unspecified charges should the demonstrations turn violent leading to destruction of property.

He noted that previous demos have resulted in assault of innocent civilians, looting, damage of public infrastrure and stagnation of the economy.

He reminded the organisers of Section five of the constitution which places responsibility on individuals should the demos turn violent leading to destruction of property.

“For example on the October 6, a Mr Norman Magaya, allegedly the CEO of National super alliance coalition, notified the Nairobi County Commander of intention to hold peaceful demonstrations in Nairobi  which turned out to be violent with destruction of properties and looting,” he said.

“Accordingly I am calling upon Kenyans whose properties were affected to report to OCS centaral Nairobi police station to facilitate legal actions we intend to take against Magaya,” he added.

Anti-IEBC protests have entered their third week with Wednesday’s demos in Niarobi being the biggest so far after NASA leader Raila Odinga and running mate Kalonzo Musyoka pulled out of a rerun presidential election to be held on October 26.

The development threw Kenya into a political tailspin with the move lending itself to different interpretations.

The ban comes in the wake of NASA’s announcement that the protests will happen daily.