Milimani High Court Suspends Police Move to Ban Protests in Nairobi CBD
The Milimani High Court on Thursday afternoon issued a conservatory order suspending a ban on protests in Nairobi and its environs which was instituted by the Acting Inspector General, Douglas Kanja.
In the court documents seen by Gossipa2z.com the court issued the orders suspending the ban on the protests pending the determination of a petition filed at the court on Thursday morning.
The petition which was filed by the Katiba Institute against the State Law Office was presented under a certificate of urgency.
“Pending the inter-parties hearing of the Application dated 18/07/2024, a conservatory order beand is hereby issued restraining the Inspector-General of Police and all other persons serving within the National Police Service, or acting in support of the National Police Service in the discharge of its law enforcement functions, from applying or enforcing the Inspector-General of Police’s impugned decision dated 17/07/2024,” read the orders.
Within the orders the court also directed that the petitions serve the application to the Police service by the close of business on Thursday, July 18.
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Meanwhile the State Law Office (Respondents) in the case were granted until July 24 to file their responses.
Further within the orders, the High Court directed that the Acting IG issue official communication to all the officers of the NPS and the general public on the suspension of the ban on a date no later than Friday July 19.
“The Acting Inspector-General of Police shall circulate or cause to be circulated official communication of Orders 2 and 3 above to all Officers of the National Police Service, and separately and under his hand to the General Public, immediately after the 1st and 2nd Respondents have been served, but in any case no later than by end of day of 19/07/2024,” stated the judge.
Further directions on the case will be issued on Monday July 29, at 9:00 A.M after the parties present themselves to the court.
The petition in question was filed hours after the Police Service issued a ban on the planned protests within the Nairobi CBD on Wednesday evening.
In its statement, the Acting IG, Kanja claimed that the NPS had received credible intelligence that organised criminal groups were planning to take advantage of protests to execute various forms of crime including looting from businesses.
Additionally, Kanja stated that the Police had a difficult time enforcing security protocol given the leaderless nature of the protests.
Milimani High Court Suspends Police Move to Ban Protests in Nairobi CBD
