Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki says anyone breaching the peace or inciting public disorder will be prosecuted.
He also stated that all government security agencies would prevent unauthorized access to some protected areas. This statement came in response to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s call for his supporters to march towards State House on Monday morning.
In a statement on March 19, Kindiki says that Monday is a normal working day, dismissing previous utterances by the former Prime Minister declaring it a ‘public holiday’
“It is hereby notified for information of the general public that pursuant to the Protected Areas Act (CAP 204 of the Laws of Kenya), security agencies shall prevent unauthorized access to all protected areas,” Kindiki’s statement reads in part.
“Monday 20th March 2023 is a normal working day. All weekday activities including learning in schools and other educational institutions shall proceed normally,”
The ODM supremo has called on his supporters to gather in Nairobi’s Central Business District for a mass protest on Monday. He made the announcement during a church function on Sunday, where he emphasized that every Kenyan has a constitutional right to hold a demonstration. Raila also stated that the mass action is a right that cannot be taken away by anyone.
The call for a protest comes after the Nairobi Police commander, Adamson Bungei, declared the planned demonstration illegal and prohibited. Bungei stated that his office had received requests from two groups planning to hold protests on the same day but decided not to grant any permits due to public safety concerns. The groups that had requested permits were Azimio la Umoja One Kenya and the Nairobi business community.
