Kenya police ban protests in capital over security concerns

world
Kenya Police Ban Protests In Capital Over Security Concerns
A police officer fires tear gas during a protest in Nairobi, © Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved
Share this article

By Evelyne Musambi, Associated Press

Police in Kenya have banned protests in the capital indefinitely, citing a lack of leadership that would ensure peaceful demonstrations.

The ban was announced hours before a planned protest later on Thursday, in which demonstrators were expected to march to the president’s office calling for his resignation over poor governance.

Advertisement

Acting police inspector general Douglas Kanja said in a statement that a lack of leadership had “made it difficult to enforce safety protocols.”


Police officers fire tear gas during a protest in Nairobi
Kenya has seen a month of protests (Ed Ram/AP)

Recent protests have left businesses counting the losses after lootings and burnings.

Advertisement

Protesters were yet to be spotted on Thursday but major roads leading to the president’s office remained barricaded by the police.

Kenya has seen a month of protests that started with calls for legislators to vote against a controversial finance bill that was proposing higher taxes amidst a cost-of-living crisis and ballooning public debt.

At least 50 people have died since the protests began on June 18, according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.


Police fire tear gas from the back of a vehicle in Nairobi
Police hurled tear gas canisters to break up protests in Nairobi on Tuesday (Ed Ram/AP)

Advertisement

President William Ruto said he would not sign the finance bill that was passed by parliament on June 25 — the day protesters stormed and burnt part of the building, prompting legislators to flee.

The president last week dismissed almost his entire Cabinet and the attorney general, as demanded by protesters who accused ministers of incompetence, corruption and displays of opulence.

Some businesses in Nairobi remained closed on a rainy morning in anticipation of planned protests on Thursday.

Advertisement

Police remained heavily deployed around the central business district patrolling the streets.


Police try and disperse a protest in Nairobi
At least 50 people have died since the protests began on June 18, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights said (Ed Ram/AP)

Police have been accused of brutality against protesters. On Friday, Japhet Koome, the former inspector general of police, resigned after calls from demonstrators for him to take responsibility for the shooting of protesters.

Advertisement

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority said on Wednesday that it had forwarded four out of 10 cases of police brutality to the director of public prosecutions with recommendations.

The watchdog had recorded witness statements and directed that various police officers appear before it to give their testimony.

Kenyan police officers have in the past been accused of brutality and a contingent of 400 officers is currently in the Caribbean nation of Haiti leading a UN-backed police mission to combat gang violence.

Read More

Message submitting... Thank you for waiting.

Want us to email you top stories each lunch time?

Download our Apps
© BreakingNews.ie 2024, developed by Square1 and powered by PublisherPlus.com