Kenya police ban Nairobi protests over infiltration by criminal gangs, court overrules ban

The Kenyan police has announced a ban on the ongoing rallies in the capital Nairobi after protests in the capital recently turned violent, claiming that criminal gangs have infiltrated the protests.

Kenyan police said Wednesday (17 July) that “no demonstrations would be permitted” in Nairobi’s city center, following deadly anti-government protests.

The police said in a statement that the decision had been taken after officials received “credible intelligence that organized criminal groups are planning to take advantage of the ongoing protests”. As a result, all demonstrations in the Nairobi Central Business District and its environs have been prohibited for the safety of the public. “Criminals have continued to infiltrate the protesting groups, resulting in a troubling trend of disorderly and destructive conduct,” it added.

However, the ban was overruled in Court Thursday, while the government ratcheted up its appeal for weeks of protests to stop, Reuters reported.

The youth-led and initially peaceful protests against proposed tax hikes started in June and continued after the legislation was withdrawn. The demonstrations later degenerated into violence that has left scores dead. According to the police, at least 50 were killed since the protests erupted nearly a month ago with the protesters calling on President William Ruto to step down.

In response to the rallies, Ruto withdrew the legislation, dismissed most of his cabinet, promised government cuts, and his office scheduled “multi-sectoral” talks this week to address the protesters’ grievances.