A Kenyan court overturns a police ban on protests in Nairobi

NAIROBI, Kenya – A Kenyan court on Thursday overturned a police ban on protests in the capital, saying citizens had the right to demonstrate peacefully.

Before the Supreme Court’s decision, police had banned protests in Nairobi indefinitely, citing a lack of leadership to ensure peaceful demonstrations.

The suspension came ahead of a planned protest rally in which demonstrators were to march to the president’s office and demand his resignation over poor governance.

Acting Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja said in a statement that the lack of leadership had “made enforcement of security protocols difficult.”

As a result of the recent protests and the looting and arson, companies have suffered losses.

No protesters were seen on Thursday, but the main roads leading to the president’s office remained blocked off by police.

Protests have been taking place in Kenya for a month, beginning with calls for parliamentarians to vote against a controversial finance bill that would have raised taxes in response to the cost of living crisis and rising national debt.

According to the Kenyan Human Rights Commission, at least 50 people have died since the protests began on June 18.

President William Ruto said he would not sign the finance bill that Parliament passed on June 25 – the day protesters stormed and burned parts of the building, prompting MPs to leave. The president last week sacked almost his entire cabinet and the attorney-general as demanded by protesters who accused ministers of incompetence, corruption and displays of opulence.

The US Embassy in Nairobi on Thursday called on police to protect Kenyans’ right to demonstrate and encouraged the government to “continue to take steps toward national unity and reconciliation.”

Some shops in Nairobi remained closed ahead of the planned protests on Thursday. Police continued to patrol the streets in large numbers around the central business district.

Government spokesman Isaac Mwaura said on Thursday that the economy had suffered losses of six billion Kenyan shillings ($45 million) due to the protests that have been going on for months.

The police have been accused of brutality against protesters. Japhet Koome, the former inspector general of police, resigned on July 12 after protesters demanded that he take responsibility for the shooting of demonstrators.

The independent police watchdog said on Wednesday it had forwarded four out of 10 cases of police brutality to the attorney general with recommendations.

The Inspectorate recorded witness statements and ordered several police officers to appear before it and give their witness statements.

Kenyan police have been accused of brutality in the past, and a contingent of 400 police officers is currently in the Caribbean nation of Haiti leading a United Nations-backed police mission to combat gang violence.