Kenya court suspends police ban on Nairobi protests
The country has been roiled by initially peaceful rallies sparked by now-scrapped tax hikes, which degenerated into violence that has left dozens of people dead.
Plain clothes Kenyan police officers run for cover after the teargas they lobbed to protesters was returned to them during a demonstration against overtaxation by the Kenyan government economic agenda outside the Kenyan Parliament in Nairobi on 18 June 2024. Picture: AFP
NAIROBI - A Kenyan court on Thursday suspended a police move to ban protests in the centre of the capital Nairobi following deadly anti-government demonstrations.
The country has been roiled by initially peaceful rallies sparked by now-scrapped tax hikes, which degenerated into violence that has left dozens of people dead.
Kenya's acting police chief Douglas Kanja had announced late Wednesday that no demonstrations would be allowed in Nairobi's central business district and surroundings "to ensure public safety".
The area has been the epicentre of many of the marches, and the scene of violent and sometimes deadly chaos, particularly on 25 June when protesters stormed parliament and police fired live bullets at demonstrators.
But a Nairobi High Court judge on Thursday issued a "conservatory order" to prevent the ban from being enforced, pending a final ruling on the case.
The court said it will hold another hearing on 29 July.
President William Ruto has been scrambling to contain the worst crisis of his nearly two-year rule, ditching the tax increases, dismissing almost his entire cabinet and promising government cuts.
But rallies led largely by Gen-Z Kenyans - while much smaller than last month - have continued across the country, with many calling on Ruto to resign.
Kanja's statement Wednesday had said the decision to ban the protests had been taken after officials received "credible intelligence that organised criminal groups are planning to take advantage of the ongoing protests".
Protesters have accused "goons" of hijacking their rallies and stoking the violence.
A total of 50 people have been killed and 413 injured since the demonstrations began on 18 June, according to the state-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.
Rights groups have accused the police - who are frequently accused of rights abuses and acting with impunity - of using disproportionate force against the protesters.