As Kenyans take to the streets to commemorate those who lost their lives during the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests, the Ministry of Interior has released a dos and don'ts list during demonstrations to ensure collective safety during the demonstrations.
According to the ministry, the guidelines seek to advance peaceful advocacy and help to prevent chaos during demonstrations. The list includes:
Dos
- Express your views peacefully
- Stay within the designated zones of the protests.
- Move with a group of protesters.
- Protest within the legally allowed time.
Don’ts
- Do not provoke the police
- Do not interfere with the peace of non-protesters
- Do not damage property
- Do not attempt to breach protected areas
- Do not spread propaganda
- Do not carry any weapons
On Wednesday morning, the police took proactive steps to manage the picketing. These included closing roads, barricading entry to major government buildings such as Parliament and State House, and deploying a large police presence in Nairobi’s Central Business District.
Despite protesters maintaining that the march will be peaceful, the State did not taken any chances, with Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen having a 5:00am meeting with senior police bosses on the morning of the protests.
Police officers on Wednesday morning erected roadblocks along major roads leading to Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD) as part of efforts to contain the day’s planned protests.
Among the key roads affected were Jogoo Road, Ngong Road, Limuru Road, Kiambu Road, and Mombasa Road, where officers set up barricades to carry out impromptu checks.
Along Jogoo Road, a roadblock was mounted near City Stadium, while another was spotted near Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Mombasa Road.
On Limuru Road, officers placed a roadblock near the Embassy of Israel, while another was positioned near Runda Mall along Kiambu Road.
Even so, protesters took to the streets across the country with large groups of protesters seen in Nairobi’s Central Business District, Mombasa, Kisii, Nakuru, Nyeri and Kitengela.
Fears of goons infiltrating the protests have been rife, especially after the scenes witnessed in last Tuesday’s protests in honour of Albert Ojwang, who died while in police custody.
