The High Court has quashed Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja’s directive that restrained protests within the Nairobi Central Business District.
According to Justice Bahati Mwamuye, Kanja’s directive in June last year that halted protests within the city centre was unconstitutional and therefore illegal.
Kanja had issued an order stopping protests within Nairobi CBD citing intelligence reports indicating that criminal elements were planning to infiltrate the Gen Z protests.
High Court dismisses IG Kanja’s directive Banning protests in Nairobi. Photo: Courtesy.
“No demonstrations will be permitted in the Nairobi CBD and its surroundings until further notice to ensure public safety. We have incredible intelligence that organised criminal elements are planning to take advantage of the ongoing demonstrations to execute their attacks including looting,” read part of Kanja’s directive.
However, Katiba Institute filed a petition against the directive, arguing that the police boss surpassed his powers by halting the peaceful demonstrations.
The petition stated that the Bill of Rights entitled every Kenyan to enjoy the fundamental freedoms to the greatest extent.
Moreover the petition insisted that the Inspector General went against the Constitution by granting himself the privilege of determining who had how people conducted themselves in the Nairobi CBD.
