In spite of police warnings that they will step up their crackdowns on what they view as illegal protests, the Kenyan opposition has vowed to continue the demonstrations planned for Monday. The demonstrations began last week and descended into violence in several strongholds of the resistance.
They will be conducted every Monday and Thursday, according to opposition leader Raila Odinga, in an effort to mobilise the nation against rising living expenses and purported electoral fraud.
However, Japhet Koome, the chief of police, declared on Sunday that “he had not approved of any demonstrations” and issued a mass arrest warning.
Kenyan legislation exempts protests from police approval.
“We have been restraining ourselves. We cannot do that anymore. We must come out as the police service to ensure law and order is maintained. That is message for everybody,” Mr Koome told journalists.
On Sunday, Mr. Odinga insisted that the constitution protects the protests.
“We have given the police a notice of protest as required by our laws. We don’t want to bring anarchy to our country, but we are fighting for our rights. The Kenyans people have a right to peacefully demonstrate,” he declared.