The High Court has declined to stop Azimo’s three-day planned anti-government protests scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
This judgement comes after a petition was filed by Martin Gitau, seeking orders from the high court to stop the planned protests. His lawyer, Adrian Kamotho lists Raila and Uhuru as respondents in the case.
“Unless this honourable court intervenes, the petitioner is apprehensive that the respondents shall proceed in their unlawful course of unlawful and violent protests, to the detriment of the majority of law-abiding citizens who deserve to carry on with their daily activities without disruptions,” Gitau said.
However, Justice Mugambi failed to issue the orders. Instead, set the case for mentioning on September 21. In addition to that, directed that the application and petition be served within the next three days.
” Responses to the petition and the application be filed within 10 days,” Added the court.
The petitioner accused the opposition of failing to issue a notification to the authorities in last week’s protests. This was a mention to certify the matter as urgent and a temporary order to restrain the respondents. The court, however, did not agree with the petition.
He said that on July 11, the first party issued a press notification that the demonstrations of July 12 were illegal. This was mainly because the planners failed to notify the National Police Service of their intention to carry out protests. This is necessary so that the police are able to provide sufficient security to demonstrators and the public.
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The petitioner goes further to accuse the opposition of taking advantage of the constitutional provision to assemble and picket to cause violence.
“The respondents have resorted to rioting, hooliganism, vandalism, primitive destruction, and mindless conduct. It is incompatible with the overall enjoyment of fundamental rights and freedom,” He said.
He filed the petition on Monday morning stating that the previous protests caused deaths, and property destruction and if this week’s are not stopped, we risk facing similar consequences or worse.
This petition comes during the government-opposition standoff on this week’s protests. This brought the attention of different stakeholders calling on the country’s top leadership to dialogue.
President Ruto has vowed not to allow protests in the country. He blamed his predecessor and opposition leader for orchestrating the chaos. Inclusive of this, Ruto allegedly promised the Kenya Kwanza MPs that the handshake would not happen this time round, following the harm it caused in the 2018 regime.
Read Also: Raila Vs Ruto: Clash Over Anti-Government Protests
