Lobby group Operation Linda Jamii has filed a petition in court seeking police facilitation for a peaceful procession to State House, Nairobi, and all State Lodges across the country. The group aims to present their petitions on Tuesday, July 30, emphasizing the need for a peaceful demonstration and police restraint.
According to court documents, the petitioners have notified the Inspector General of Police (2nd respondent) about the planned nationwide march. The procession will see members of Operation Linda Jamii and other well-meaning Kenyans march to State House in Nairobi and state lodges in Mombasa, Kisumu, Sagana, Nyeri, Eldoret, Nakuru, Kakamega, and Kitale.
The group expressed concerns over the recent trends of police force being used against peaceful protesters. They urged the Inspector General to ensure that officers exercise restraint during the march. “In all these protests, despite the fact that Kenyans have consistently communicated their intention to, peaceably and unarmed, express their disaffection with the regime on the streets, they have been met with untold violence, intimidation, torture, detention without trial, murder and enforced disappearances at the hands of the State,” reads part of the document.
Operation Linda Jamii criticized the Kenya Kwanza regime for using police to intimidate citizens, violating the provisions of the 2010 Constitution. They argued that the nation is rapidly turning into a police state where dissenting voices are criminalized, and due process is denied to those perceived as opposing the regime. “The preamble to the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, recognises the aspirations of all Kenyans for a government based on the essential values of human rights, equality, freedom, democracy, social justice and the rule of law,” they told the court.
The petitioners further highlighted past instances where peaceful protests were met with heavy-handed responses from security forces. They referenced a march to State House on June 27, during which heavily armed officers and military security were deployed to barricade all connecting roads and prevent access to the premises.
Under the First Schedule of the Protected Areas Act, State House and state lodges are recognized as protected areas. Unauthorized presence within these premises is an offense punishable by imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, a fine not exceeding five thousand shillings, or both.
The petitioners insist that their intention is to deliver their petitions peacefully and without causing any disturbance. They hope that the court will order the police to facilitate their peaceful procession and ensure the safety of all participants.
This petition comes amid growing tensions in the country, with many citizens expressing dissatisfaction with the current regime’s handling of various issues. Operation Linda Jamii’s call for a peaceful march reflects the broader sentiment among Kenyans who seek to exercise their constitutional rights to assemble and express their views.
As the scheduled march date approaches, all eyes will be on the court’s decision and the response from the police. The outcome will be significant in determining how future protests are handled and whether citizens can exercise their right to peaceful assembly without fear of repression.
The ongoing situation underscores the critical balance between maintaining security and upholding democratic freedoms, a challenge that continues to shape Kenya’s political landscape.
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