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Interior Cabinet secretary Kithure Kindiki has reiterated his hard stance that no anti-government demonstrations will be allowed as planned by opposition coalition Azimio.
Kindiki said law enforcement agencies and national security teams are on the alert and have deployed all resources at their disposal to prevent scenes witnessed last Wednesday from recurring tomorrow and the next two days.
He said intelligence reports have corroborated media reports that showed the damage from the last week’s protests were widespread and that deaths witnessed will not be seen again under his watch.
“..national security agencies have deployed all available resources to ensure that scenes witnessed on Wednesday do not happen again. Anyone planning to unleash violence on Kenyans is hereby warned to cease and desist,” he said in a statement on Tuesday evening.
The stance of the CS comes as the nation is gripped in tension over what will transpire even as the opposition remains dug in its heels to proceed with the street action.
The CS dared those who doubt the state resolve to deter the demonstrations to try coming to the streets on Wednesday saying that they have a date with the law.
“Those who doubt government resolve to prevent further loss of life, injury, destruction of private and public property and degeneration of the country into anarchy have a date with the law enforcement agencies tomorrow, Thursday, Friday or any other day,” he said.
Kindiki said that owing to the repeated warnings and the meticulous preventive plans in place, “members of the public are advised to go about their daily businesses normally…”
“…the law enforcement agencies will ensure their safety and security and those who wish to express their political rights to do so peacefully without violating the right of others.”
However, Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen struck a conciliatory tone, urging that Azimio chief Raila Odinga to use his influence to call off the protests in the nation’s interest.
He said the opposition lot should resume the bipartisan parliamentary talks to have whatever their grievance addressed rather than exposing their supporters to harm through the protests.
“Now that Azimio are clear that they don’t want to be part of government in any form or shape whether it is nusu mkate or handshake, then I don’t see the reason why we can’t prosecute the issues raised using our democratic institutions.”
“President Ruto offered dialogue as a solution and those of us in government supported his proposal a 100 per cent without exception. I urge our Azimio friends to be mindful of the nation and resume the talks,” he said.
Azimio leaders have urged their supporters to come out in large numbers carrying sufuria to picket as a show of their struggle to put food on the table. BY THE STAR