The interior ministry of Kenya is recommending amendments to security regulations that will make it harder for people to stage protests.
Kenyans are granted the freedom to congregate, protest, and picket under the constitution, but all participants must do so peacefully and without weapons.
One university student was killed during protests last week in areas where the opposition is strong after police used tear gas and live bullets to disperse crowds.
The ministry’s proposed amendments aim to restrict the number of protestors holding demonstrations at one time and mandate that protesters cover the costs of cleanup.
Also, the persons who will be impacted by the protests must provide their permission. The protesters will also be responsible for compensating anyone who were injured as a result of their actions.
The Interior Ministry also requests that spaces where people may congregate and hold protests be clearly marked in the proposed revisions.
“It is not feasible for security organs to allow masses of people to roam streets and neighbourhoods of their choice carrying stones and other offensive weapons while chanting political slogans and disrupting the daily activities of others,” the ministry said in a statement.
Several people have criticised the planned changes as “an affront to the fundamentals of an open and democratic society” and as “law that contravenes the constitution” and have said that they are unconstitutional.
It occurs as a stubborn opposition swears to keep up protests over the high cost of living and purported vote fraud.
