The Kenya Kwanza Alliance Coalition is pushing for political leaders who stage violent demonstrations to be restricted from vying for political seats.
The Ruto-led Coalition made the presentation during the National Dialogue Committee. They suggested legislation that regulates the rights associated with demonstrations. According to them, this would reduce deaths and destruction of property that comes from the violent protests.
” The legislation should specifically address and provide mechanisms to bar political leaders who lead violent demonstrations from vying for any elective position. It should mandate the organizers to gazette the venue, time and reason for picketing,” said Cleophas Malala, the UDA Secretary General.
Malala further mentioned that the legislation will ensure that the people who organize and lead violent protests are held accountable in the aftermath.
” This will encourage sanity and political order in our political class,” Malala mentioned.
Reason Behind the Legislation
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The proposed legislation was initiated due to the demonstrations led by the Azimio la Umoja Coalition leaders. These leaders include Orange Democratic Leader, Raila Odinga, Wiper leader, Kalonzo Musyoka and Narc Leader, Martha Karua among others.
The Coalition called for protests after the first phase of the bipartisan talks failed. Consequently, a series of protests were called by the opposition which led to the destruction of property and recorded deaths. Part of the matters citizens protested against include the high cost of living in the country, the controversial Finance Act and the resumption of bipartisan talks in good faith.
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During the series of protests, the head of the National Police Service advocated for the arrest of Raila Odinga. He also suggested that all the leaders of the demonstrations ought to be arrested and charged. They however did not have any legal framework to charge the leaders of the Coalition.
Their main argument was that the demonstrations that were summoned by the opposition led to the destruction of property and the deaths of people. The opposition, however, blamed the police department for police brutality towards the citizens protesting. They mentioned that quelling protests in no way warrants the use of live rounds which led to the deaths of civilians.
Read Also: CS Kindiki Denies Allegations of Police Brutality During Protests
