National Assembly Minority Whip Junet Mohamed on Tuesday, December 6, downplayed statements by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kindiki Kithure warning politicians against disrupting peace in the planned Azimio rallies.
Junet, in a statement seen by Kenyans.co.ke, described the warnings as an act of hubris and arrogance and maintained that the rallies would be an exercise of political rights as guaranteed in the constitution.
According to the Suna East legislator, the government had obligation to provide security during the engagement rallies without placing conditions as required by the law.
"We expect the security he deploys to our meetings to be commensurate to the needs of the meetings, and no more," he stated.
"Statements couched as obscure threats, veiled intimidation and, or, arrogance, are unwarranted and unwanted. We expect a language that confirms the regime temporarily in power understands they are ruling a democratic state, not a banana republic.
His statements came shortly after the CS issued couple of warnings to the organizers of the rallies scheduled for Wednesday, December 7 against disrupting peace in the city.
Kindiki in a statement sent to the press noted that "the government will not engage in partisan policing or use security agencies to advance political causes, and that it will respect the independence of all constitutional institutions in the country.
“Demonstrations, picketing, and airing of grievances, meetings and assembly must be peaceful. We expect those who are engaging in this activity to respect our Constitution and the law,” he stated, citing Article 37 of the Constitution.
However, CS Kindiki made clear his intention to provide security for the rallies and allow the members to exercise their constitutional rights.
Azimio principals are expected to hold two rallies at the historic Kamukunji Grounds in Nairobi, in line with earlier pronouncements by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
The opposition faction announced the plans as part of their protest against the ouster of the four dissenting Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission- IEBC commissioners.
