NASA notifies police of four-day demos starting Tuesday

NASA supporters during anti-IEBC demos in Mombasa on October 2, 2017. /JOHN CHESOLI
NASA supporters during anti-IEBC demos in Mombasa on October 2, 2017. /JOHN CHESOLI

NASA has written to Nairobi county commander Japhet Koome asking for police protection during their planned four-day demonstrations within the city.

Through lawyer Edwin Sifuna, the Opposition said on Monday it will hold demonstrations from Tuesday through to Friday "to push for electoral justice and an end to electoral impunity in Kenya".

NASA leader Raila Odinga earlier said they would only hold mega protests on Thursday during the repeat election.

"You are hereby notified of the same and requested to provide security during the said processions/demonstrations to ensure criminal elements do not take advantage to harm protesters, the public or property," Sifuna said.

The use of a law firm to notify the police of the protests is a shift from routine by NASA whose CEO Norman Magaya would normally write such letters.

Acting Interior CS Fred Matiang'i recently said Magaya would be held personally responsible for all criminal acts that were committed during the recent demonstrations.

Raila has called on his supporters not to vote during the elections but instead hold protests in their locations seemingly to illegitimize the election and President Uhuru Kenyatta’s presidency should he win.

The former Prime Minister has withdrawn from the repeat contest saying the IEBC has failed to put in place the necessary measures to ensure the exercise will be free and fair.

Anti-IEBC protests have in the recent days turned violent in Nairobi, Kisumu and Bondo leading to the death of four people who were shot by police.

Businesses premises were vandalised and some shops looted by a section of demonstrators in some of the Opposition strongholds.

Police have been accused of using excessive force to control the protesters leading to the four deaths.

To avoid a repeat of such incidents, NASA wants the police commander to assure them of protection.

"Your cooperation towards making the peaceful demonstrations a success, in line with your responsibilities under the law, will be highly appreciated," Sifuna told Koome.

On Monday, the President issued a stern warning against those intending to disrupt Thursday’s repeat election.

He reiterated his stand that elections must be held on the date set by the IEBC noting that those wishing to boycott the same have a Constitutional right to do so.

"If you want to stay at home, you stay. But if you go out with the intention to cause violence, you will see," the president said during a tour of the city.

NASA has previously blamed a group calling itself the “Nairobi business community” of being behind acts of violence during their protests in Nairobi.

The opposition said the group was hell-bent on causing trouble during their demonstrations to paint them as violent.

The group has in turn said it acted in the interest of protecting their businesses from vandalism and looting by wayward NASA supporters.

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