Gov’t Allows Tomorrow’s Planned Protests With Stern Conditions and Curfew For All Protestors.
Gov’t Allows Tomorrow’s Planned Protests With Stern Conditions and Curfew For All Protestors: Addressing the nation Today, Interior Cabinet Secretary, Kithure Kindiki Underscored that According to Article 24 (1d) of the Constitution, this right as all other rights is limited by among other things.
He stated,” The need to ensure that the enjoyment of this right does not prejudice the rights and freedoms of others. It follows therefore, that those exercising the Article 37 right to assemble, to demonstrate, to picket and present petitions to public authorities peaceably and unarmed,”
He outlined that the protests should end by sunset and no one should provoke either the law enforcement officers or members of the public
He stated,”They must stop their activities at sunset or at 6:30pm whichever is earlier in accordance with the Public Order Act Cap 57 of the laws of Kenya. They must not provoke, attack, injure or obstruct law enforcement officers or even members of the public,”
“They must not obstruct, block, vandalize or otherwise destroy any private or public property. They must adhere to the laws of Kenya including the Protected Areas Act that limits access to certain critical infrastructure for national security reasons; and the police will guide them on which areas they cannot access by operation of the law on the protection of critical infrastructure,” he added.
Below is the List of conditions as highlighted by the interior Cabinet Secretary.
- They must remain peaceful and unarmed throughout the assembly, the demonstration, the picketing and the presentation of any petitions to authorities.
- They must engage in a manner that does not promote violence or riots.
- They must not breach public order.
- They must not intimidate, harass or otherwise inconvenience members of the public who are not protesting.
- They must inform the police of their intentions to exercise this right. They must also inform the police of the routes they will take for purposes of providing escort and ensuring there is law and order during this constitutional expression.
- They must also inform the police of the timings of their activities. They must stop their activities at sunset or 630 whichever is earlier.
- They must not provoke, attack, injure or obstruct law enforcement officers or even members of the public. They must also follow the escort and other guidelines of law enforcement officers to protect them from infiltrators.
- They must not obstruct, block, vandalise or otherwise destroy any private or public property. Must adhere to the laws of Kenya including the Protected Areas Act that limits access to certain critical infrastructure for national security reasons.
- Must not interfere with road, rail, sea or air transport in any manner whatsoever. Whatever the issues, whatever the grievances, whatever the matter, the rule of law and public order must be maintained by all persons. For the avoidance of doubt non-protesters and other members of the public who hold a contrary view to that or protesters are bound by the same limitations and must exercise their rights to disagree in the same manner
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