A Kenyan court suspended a police-imposed ban on protests in the nation’s capital, Nairobi. The Milimani Law Courts ruled that the ban would remain suspended pending the hearing and determination of a petition filed by a Kenyan NGO challenging the police directive.
The acting Inspector General of Police had imposed an indefinite ban on protests in Nairobi’s central business district (CBD) and surrounding areas on Wednesday, July 17. The ban was justified by citing a lack of leadership capable of ensuring that protests would remain peaceful.
The court’s suspension of the ban came just before a planned demonstration, during which protesters intended to march to the president’s office. In anticipation of the protest, police were heavily deployed around the CBD, patrolling the streets, and major roads leading to the president’s office were cordoned off.
Nairobi has been the epicenter of youth-led protests, which have spread across the country. Accusations have been leveled against the police for allegedly shooting dead protesters, leading to the resignation of former Inspector General Japheth Koome.
On Thursday, a government spokesperson reported that the ongoing month-long protests have inflicted approximately $45 million in economic losses. Isaac Mwaura, addressing the protesters, urged them to embrace patriotism and consider the broader implications of their actions.