• Sossion said it was wrong for protestors to be disruptive and violent while demonstrating.
• He noted that the constitution limits the confines to which people can demonstrate freely.
Image: CHARLENE MALWA
Former nominated MP Wilson Sossion has expressed dissatisfaction at the violence that was seen during Monday’s demonstrations.
Sossion who spoke to K24 on Tuesday said it was wrong that some protestors were disruptive and violent while they were conducting their demonstrations in the CBD and outskirts of Nairobi.ADVERTISING
“When you talk of the right to demonstrate you have no right to destroy property. We saw the destruction of property, even in buildings within the city,” Sossion said.
He noted that the same constitution which provides people with the right to demonstrate has safeguards that govern what people can or cannot do while holding protests.
“The constitution does not contemplate demonstrations where destruction of property and even threat to life is being undertaken. There are limitations to those rights and the constitution is clear, do not affect the rights of others,” he said.
“It is not freedom to do things the way you like, it is regulated even how demonstrations are done. This is not a banana country and you cannot cheat the public that that is a blanket right.”
In addition, Sossion highlighted the actions of the police saying their actions were necessitated by the run of events that were happening during the protests.
“You don’t expect the police to cheer and clap for rowdy mobs that are destroying property, throwing stones at buildings, removing barricades from constructed highways and burning down buildings,” Sossion said.
“The work of the police is to enforce law and order and do it within the law and of course, if you look at it the Kenyan police have been very restrained.”