Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has proposed a new bill that would effectively change the way demonstrations are conducted, particularly those in Nairobi.
The Public Order (Amendment) Bill 2025 proposed changes to the existing Public Order Act (Cap. 56) by introducing restrictions on the locations of public meetings.
In the proposal by the Nairobi Woman Representative, no public meeting or procession would be allowed within a 100-metre radius of Parliament, courtrooms and protected areas designated under the Protected Areas Act.
“A person who contravenes the provisions of this section commits an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding Ksh100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or both,” the bill reads in part.
The bill also gives the Interior Cabinet Secretary the authority to designate demonstration zones after consultations with the county governments. This will entail prescribing areas where public processions are allowed, as well as areas where they are prohibited.
As per the current provisions in Chapter 56 of the Public Order Act, public meetings and processions are regulated, with organisers required to notify police at least three days before the planned event.
Organisers of the event are also expected to share details of the date, location and time of the planned gathering, which is restricted to between 6am and 6pm.
If Passaris' bill is passed, more stringent guardrails will be placed on demonstrations, as protesters would effectively be limited to certain areas, away from key state infrastructure.
The proposals come on the back of a wave of destruction of property that was witnessed during the June 25 demonstrations across the country, which were meant to remember the lives of those who succumbed a year earlier.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss Amin Mohammed, the protests were well-orchestrated by several unnamed figures, who mobilised goons to hijack peaceful demonstrators and target government infrastructure.
Several government facilities, including the Kikuyu Law Courts and other police stations, were either vandalised or torched on June 25, sparking a debate on how far protests should be allowed to go by authorities.
Over 400 suspects across the country have since been arrested after the mayhem last Wednesday and are set to face a spate of charges ranging from murder, terrorism, rape, arson, obstruction of police officers, breaking and stealing, robbery and robbery with violence, incitement to violence, handling stolen goods, malicious damage to property and possession of illegal firearms.
