Otiende Amollo responds to IG Koome over legality of planned Azimio protests
Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo has responded to Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome regarding the legality of Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition protests planned for Monday, March 27. 2023.
In a tweet, Amollo referred Koome to the Constitution, articles 37 & 244(C), which allow peaceful demonstrations as a right.
"Someone take to IG (Japheth) Koome a copy of the Constitution and remind him of articles 37 & 244(C)," Amollo tweeted.
According to article 37 of the 2010 Constitution, every Kenyan citizen has the right to "assembly, demonstration, picketing and petition.
"Every person has the right, peaceably and unarmed, to assemble, to demonstrate, to picket, and to present petitions to public authorities," the article reads in part.
Article 244(C) stipulates that the National Police Service shall "comply with Constitutional standards of human rights and fundamental freedoms."
Koome 'bans' Azimio protests
This comes hours after Koome banned the planned Azimio protests, saying no demonstrations will be allowed.
"As the Inspector General of Police, I have not allowed any demonstrations. They were on every street looking for the server. Is the server everywhere? I have a mandate and I will not allow anyone's property to be destroyed," Koome said.
Speaking on Sunday, March 26, 2023, the police boss noted that tomorrow, Monday, 27, 2023, will be business as usual and urged Kenyans to go to work and continue with their normal routine duties.
He also assured Kenyans of maximum safety and security as they go about their activities.
