NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 6 – Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof Kithure Kindiki has said that the Azimio la Umoja coalition is free to go ahead with their planned meeting, saying that they will be provided with security.
Kindiki warned however that any act of lawlessness or disruption of business will be dealt with firmly.
He directed Azimio to specify the time they will hold the demonstration rallies, what they will be up to and the venues to be used.
“We have finite human resource to deploy and must balance how we deploy our officers during the protests,” he said.
He said that those attending the rallies should not carry any arms or weapons adding that they should not harass and to keep off their property.
According to Kindiki, Azimo have a right to demonstrate or picket, since the constitution gives them the freedom to.
“We are not interested to interrupt the freedoms supposed to be enjoyed by the people of Kenya because that would undermine our constitutional order,” he said.
“Government will not engage in any disruption of the people who want to protests and demonstrate. Continue (the protests) peacefully without jeopardizing people’s peace and businesses. There should be no yelling, heckling and harassing other people,” he added.
His sentiments come after Azimio flagbearer Raila Odinga, said on Monday that the coalition would hold nationwide public consultative forums which will begin Wednesday, December 7, at the Kamukunji grounds.
Raila insisted that the meetings were not protests as had been interpreted but are consultative meetings.
The CS said that the government was prioritizing the mental wellbeing of police officers. He said that officers who will be posted in hardship areas will receive pre-deployment and post-deployment counselling.
Kindiki added that the National Police Service Hospital, the Kenya Prison Service Hospital and the Border Police Hospital will be officially opened in the next 30 days.
“These facilities will help us deal with injured officers while in the line of duty and also deal with the mental issues of our uniformed men and women while in service,” he said.
Officers who are currently based in the Northern and North Eastern parts of the country will be rotated regularly in a bid to improve their welfare.
He assured Kenyans of their safety as we approach the festive season saying that measures are in place to deal with any cases of crime or terrorism.
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