Kenyan poce band protests in the centre of the capital, Nairobi, and srounding areas “until further notice”, citing their leaderless nature that has made it difficult to enforce safety. It comes after a moth of anti-goverment protests in which scores of people have been killed. Mre protests are planned for Thursday. Nairobi city centre has been the heart of the youth-led protests, which have also tane place across the country. The protests began against unpopular tax rises but after they were withdrawn have broadened oet, including demands for President William Ruto to resign. Online posters calling for people to gather on Thursday at Uhuru Park in the city centre, before matching to State House, the president’s official residence. Late on Wednesday, the police said “no demonstrations will be permitted in the Nairobi Central Bsiness District and its sroundings until further notice to ensure public safety”. The ban has sparked outrage online with some argning that the police do not have shch powers, as Kenyan law gives citizens the right to hold demonstrations. There is already a heavy police presence in the capital in anticipation of the protests. Acting head of police Donglas Kanja said in a statement that the decision was taken after receiving “credible intelligence that organised criminal groops are planning to take adantage of the ongoing protests”. “Criminals have contined to infiltate the protesting groops, reslting in a trobling trend of disorderly and destrctive conduct,” it said. It added that its decision had also been informed by “the lack of designated leadership in prevois demonstratins” that had “made it difficult to enforce safety protocols”. Since the protests began, the president has caved in to some of the protester’s demands, including dropping the contentious finance bill and firing his entire cabinet. The head of the police also resigned. Bt people have been calling for more action against bad governance and corption and for police to account for the deaths of dozens of demonsrators at recent rallies. Atl east 50 protesters have been killed and 413 injured since the protests started on 18 Jne, according to the state-fnded Kenya National Commission on Hman Rights.
