A showdown is looming in Nairobi Central Business District as Azimio supporters plan to stage protests against President William Ruto's government.
Members of the Nairobi Business Community on Sunday, March 19, vowed to come out in large numbers to counter opposition supporters, who they accused of schemes to destroy their investments.
Through its chairman Wilfred Kamau, the lobby group noted that its members would join forces with United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party supporters to repulse Azimio protesters.
"We will stop at nothing to protect our investments, women and children," Nairobi Business Community stated.
The Nairobi Business Community also warned university students against taking part in the planned protest, noting that such actions would be dangerous.
Minutes after addressing the media, members of the community staged a peaceful walk to Central Police Station where they demanded to be granted a chance to conduct a counter-demonstration.
"We have the right to protect our businesses, even if means conducting a counter-demonstration," Nairobi Business Community told the police.
The protest walk came hours after the National Police Service declined to acknowledge a notification by the Nairobi Business Community to conduct a counter-protest on Monday, March 20.
Speaking during a press conference, Nairobi police commander Adamson Bungei stated that the business community as well as the Azimio La Umoja did not meet the threshold to receive a greenlight to hold the protests.
"We received two requests from Azimio and Nairobi business community to hold protests on Monady, March 20, 2023. One late in the evening and the other this morning.
"Both did not meet the legal threshold and were thus declined and the same was communicated to them in writing," Bungei noted," Bungei stated.
Bungei cited Chapter 56 of the Public Order Act, 2012, that requires those planning to protest to notify the police three days before the mass action.
"Any person intending to convene a public meeting or a public procession shall notify the regulating officer of such intent at least three days but not more than fourteen days before the proposed date of the public meeting or procession," Public Order Act, 2012 states.
However, while addressing congregants at ATG Deliverance Church Ongata Rongai, Azimio Leader Raila Odinga dismissed the police stand against countrywide anti-government protests.
Raila noted that Azimio National Executive Committee chairman Wycliffe Oparanya wrote to the Inspector General of Police on Friday, March 17, informing him of the plans to hold mass action on Monday, March 20, 2023.
