After a day of chaos that resulted in deaths, injuries and destruction of properties on Tuesday, the National Police Service has banned all protests planned in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) and its environs on Thursday.
Acting Inspector General of Police Kanja Kirocho in a statement said no demonstrations will be permitted in the Nairobi Central Business District and its surroundings until further notice to ensure public safety.
He said the lack of a designated leader to coordinate, collaborate and cooperate with police for peaceful demonstrations in the previous demonstrations has made it difficult to enforce safety protocols.
“As a result, no demonstrations will be permitted in the Nairobi Central Business District and its surroundings until further notice to ensure public safety,” read the statement.
Kirocho further appealed to members of the public to remain vigilant in crowded areas, and to support the collective safety and security by sharing any information that may aid the police in crime detection and prevention.
He said since the demonstrations by Gen Z began in June this year, criminals have continued to infiltrate the protesting groups, resulting in a troubling trend of disorderly and destructive conduct.
Gen Z have called for fresh protests for Thursday and have been mobilising thousands of their fellow youths to join as they plan to march to State House to ask President Ruto to step aside.
They say even though the President has met some of their demands like shelving the draconian Finance Bill, dissolving of the Cabinet and cutting the budgets of First Lady and wives of the Deputy President and Prime Cabinet Secretary, they still want the entire government gone.
With the banning of their protests planned for Thursday July 18, it remains to be seen whether the defiant youths will heed the ban or will emerge to engage with the police.
And as the protests continue and death toll hits 50 and injuries over 400, and millions of shillings in property destroyed, Kenyans are now urging the Gen Z to embrace dialogue and resolve some of the issues they want through legal channels.
Observers have noted that some of the changes the youth are demanding require the amendment of the constitution through a legal process and not through streets demonstrations.
Lawyer Paul Mwangi asked the youth to agree to go to Bomas for a National Convention to discuss how to change the country and align to the vision of future generations beginning with Gen Z.
“Many demands made by Gen Z call for extra constitutional solutions. They have said they want a total overhaul of the system and to drain the swamp. Many of these reforms need radical changes and even constitutional amendments. Let’s go have a national convention. Lets go back to Bomas,” said Mwangi.
