Azimio's Warning To IG Koome On Allowing These Cops To Protests

Azimio la Umoja coalition on Wednesday, March 22 warned Inspector General (IG) of Police Japhet Koome against unleashing plainclothes police officers during the upcoming mass demonstrations.

In a letter addressed to the IG, the coalition complained regarding plain-clothed officers making arrests during the nationwide protests as was witnessed on Monday, March 20.

To avert this, the coalition led by Raila Odinga demanded that the National Police Service (NPS) only deploy uniformed police to the protests, arguing that their plain-clothed colleagues would be treated as hired goons.

"We put police on notice that we will allow only uniformed police to bear arms; plainclothes in arms will be dealt with as thugs and hired goons and committed to civilian arrests as allowed per the law," stated Azimio in part.

Azimio further noted to Koome that the letter should show evidence as a formal notice of intention to hold demonstrations scheduled for Monday, March 27 and Thursday, March 30. However, it maintained that no more notices will be issued in the bi-weekly protests scheduled for upcoming months. 

"We are unable to submit any prescribed form as none is available in any of their stations. Can you please avail us a copy from your office but this serves as an official notice.

"This is to notify you that we will be holding processions in all the 47 counties in the Republic of Kenya this Monday 27th, March 2023 and Thursday 30th March 2023 and every subsequent Monday and Thursday thereafter," the letter added.

Azimio also announced that they had changed their tactics of presenting their grievances to the necessary government institutions after their plan to take their petitions to State House during the protests on Monday, March 20 failed to materialise.

"We intend to submit petitions to County Commanders; sub-county commanders and all other state offices countrywide as part of the processions. For the avoidance of doubt, this is not an application for permission as none is required under Article 37," the letter went on.

The purpose of Azimio's letter was a notification to enable the police to provide adequate security to the demonstrators, with the coalition urging the police to provide adequate security.

The letter addressed to Nairobi Regional Commander Adamson Bungei was submitted at the Nairobi Regional Police Headquarters by Azimio leaders including Eugene Wamalwa, Jeremiah Kioni, Wycliffe Oparanya and Roots Party leader George Wajackoyah, notifying him of its intention to hold the peaceful demonstrations in all the major streets making up the Nairobi Central Business District from dawn to dusk.

However, Bungei stated that letters of intent to picket should not be addressed to him, but to the rightful regulating officers in respective police stations.

“The regulating officer is one commanding a police station. The letter has to be served to the police station, guided by the law. So this letter should be delivered to the officer commanding the police station in the area which the procession will be held,” he said.

Among the issues Azimio leaders want to be addressed include the high cost of living, the opening of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) servers, and the reinstatement of four IEBC commissioners.

President William Ruto on Wednesday however dismissed the demonstrations and affirmed that his administration would not let anyone disrupt the country's economy for selfish gain.

"There is no reason whatsoever for anyone to stand in the way of free enterprise, disrupt businesses or sabotage economic activity or work as economic terrorists for personal selfish interests. Such impunity must be dealt with firmly and full accountability enforced to vindicate Kenya's commitment as a free market economy," he noted. 

The Monday, March 20 protests, the first for the Azimio coalition, turned chaotic as a total of 31 police officers were injured and 238 protesters were arrested.

A photo of some of the police water cannon trucks used on March 20, 2023, mounted on a police water cannon truck. /RAILA ODINGA