The Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome
The Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome Sunday announced he had banned Monday’s planned anti-government protests by the Azimio La Umoja coalition.
He said he had not allowed any protests to take place and urged the organizers to solve them politically.
“They are looking for servers and I don’t know where they are. These are political disputes and should be solved politically,” he said.
But the organizers said the protests will go on as planned adding they had notified police to provide security.
This indicates there will be chaos in clashes between police and the protesters.
Koome affirmed Sunday that nobody with the intent to cause chaos will be allowed into the city center and also be barred from leaving their respective residential estates.
The police boss affirmed that security teams are well prepared for the protest and that they will not be lenient on any person found armed with “offensive weapons” including stones, machetes, and rungus.
“We have visitors from many foreign nations and we will not allow anything to happen in our capital city. Everyone has the right to go into the city center,” he said.
He warned against protests saying they are illegal.
“I have the mandate to ensure that I protect lives and property and I am very good at that. I will not sleep on the job. Whichever level or status you have in society. I have enough land cruisers to take you away to jail and be there for a lifetime.”
“We are ready as the police to ensure that there is calm in the entire country starting with Nairobi. Every Kenyan should go on with their work tomorrow (Monday). Ours is to ensure that every corner of this country is secure and safe. This is our country and I would urge all of us to be proud to be Kenyans.”
He also dismissed the motive behind the protest, which is to ensure the government against the high cost of living, noting that the protests are fully politically motivated and should be solved politically.
Azimio plans protests on Monday 27 and on Thursday over, among others, the cost of living.
