Nairobi — The government will not tolerate lawlessness and destruction of property during the upcoming antigovernmental protests slated for Wednesday, Interior Cabinet secretary Kithure Kindiki has warned.
Kindiki said Monday when he presided over the operationalization of Igoji Sub-County in Meru that security officers are under firm instruction to deal with those disrupting peace, destroying property, and injuring people during the demos that have been called by the Azimio coalition.
Highlighting the consequences of previous protests held on July 7, where six people lost their lives and others injured, the Interior CS stressed the need for decisive action to prevent further loss of life in future demos.
"Freedom of association and the right to demonstrate does not include the right to cause mayhem and loot property," Kindiki said Monday.
"For those threatening to make the country ungovernable through mayhem, looting, chaos, and bloodshed on Wednesday, we dare you."
Kindiki has however, warned police against lobbing teargas to disperse peaceful protestors.
Kindiki said his office had been made aware of overzealous perpetrators in the security sector who used unnecessary and disproportionate force which is in contradiction of the government's position to uphold tenets of the 2010 Constitution.
"If the citizens are peacefully demonstrating, they should be allowed to do so. If they are unarmed, not causing harm to anyone or damaging property, they should be permitted to express their grievances without interference. Eventually, they will disperse and return to their homes," Kindiki emphasized.
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Kindiki emphasized the responsibility of the police to ensure the safety and security of citizens while they exercise their democratic rights.
The Interior Cabinet Secretary warned that any law enforcement officer who violates the rights of any citizen will face appropriate consequences.
"We will not tolerate the misconduct of the few police officers who resort to excessive force against protesters. Such behavior will be dealt with accordingly," he cautioned.
On Monday, 73 demonstrators arrested in Nairobi during Saba Saba protests were freed after the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) declined to prefer charges.
The prosecution through counsel Anderson Gikunda told Nairobi Chief magistrate Lucas Onyina that the decision had been made not to prefer criminal charges against the suspects.
Gikunda stated that the ODPP in consultation with the suspects' lawyers John Khaminiwa, Otiende Amollo, Haruin Ndubi and Senator Daniel Maanzo arrived at the conclusion after it was decided that the suspects were exercising their democratic rights.
