In a day marked by nationwide protests, dubbed “Nane Nane,” a total of 174 individuals were arrested, according to the acting Inspector General of Police, Gilbert Masengeli. The protests, aimed at voicing discontent against the government, saw a relatively low turnout across the country, with minimal instances of looting and property damage.
During an evening press briefing at Jogoo House in Nairobi, Masengeli noted that the country remained largely peaceful throughout the day, a stark contrast to previous demonstrations that had been marred by violence, destruction of property, and loss of lives. “Unlike the recent demonstrations that were marred with wanton destructions of property, looting, injuries, and loss of lives, today the country remained peaceful and normalcy prevailed, except in Nairobi where one officer was injured,” Masengeli stated.
Despite the overall calm, minor skirmishes were reported in Downtown Nairobi, Kisii, and Migori towns. In these areas, attempts by protesters to loot property were quickly quelled by police officers who had been deployed in advance to maintain order. Masengeli emphasized the efficiency and readiness of the police force in dealing with the situation, crediting prior intelligence that had indicated possible unrest in certain regions.
The majority of the arrests took place in Nairobi, with 126 individuals being detained. Additional arrests occurred in Kitengela, located in the Rift Valley region, where 22 individuals were taken into custody, and in Emali, Makueni County, where 26 people were apprehended. Masengeli highlighted that these arrests were made in response to attempts to disrupt peace and normalcy in these areas.
A key point raised by the acting Police IG was the failure of the protest organizers to notify the authorities of their planned demonstrations, as required by law. Under the Kenyan Constitution, particularly Article 37, citizens have the right to assemble, demonstrate, picket, and present petitions to public authorities, provided they do so peaceably and unarmed. However, the law also mandates that organizers notify the police in advance of any planned demonstrations to allow for adequate security measures to be put in place.
“Despite the failure by conveners of today’s demonstration to notify the Police of their intention to hold the demonstration, we ensured adequate deployment of security personnel and cautioned members of the public to avoid crowded areas that were likely to turn riotous,” Masengeli stated. He went on to reassure the public that the police were prepared and well-equipped to handle any potential disturbances, ensuring that normalcy prevailed in most parts of the country.
The acting Police IG had previously warned on Wednesday that the protests could be infiltrated by individuals with criminal intent, which could pose a threat to national security. He cited intelligence reports suggesting that the protests might not remain peaceful, as had been the case with initial demonstrations held in June. Those earlier protests had started peacefully but eventually escalated into riots, resulting in significant damage and looting.
In his address, Masengeli urged the public to remain vigilant during the protests and warned against any attempts to trespass on protected areas such as the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and State House. He reiterated that the police would not hesitate to take action against anyone found engaging in illegal activities during the protests.
As the day concluded, the Nane Nane protests served as a reminder of the delicate balance between the right to protest and the need to maintain public order. While the low turnout and minimal chaos were seen as a success by the authorities, the significant number of arrests and the ongoing tension highlight the challenges that lie ahead in managing public dissent in Kenya.
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