Nairobi Police Commander George Sedah has strongly warned against a planned protest outside the official residence of Deputy President Kithure Kindiki in Karen, Nairobi. Sedah made it clear that the demonstration will not be allowed to take place, citing security concerns.
This firm warning was issued just hours after several political leaders allied to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua announced plans to march to Kindiki’s residence.
The leaders, mainly from the Farmers Party, said they would stage the protest to demand the reinstatement of Gachagua as Deputy President.
Their move follows a recent controversial ruling by the Court of Appeal, which challenged how the process of Gachagua’s impeachment was handled.
In a formal letter addressed to Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, the Farmers Party leaders had requested police protection for the protest.
They insisted they were acting within their constitutional rights, claiming they were defending the will of Kenyans who had voted for Gachagua during the 2022 general election.
The letter partly read, “Following the Court of Appeal ruling on the removal of H.E. Rigathi Gachagua as the Deputy President of Kenya through impeachment, we, the Farmers Party and concerned members of the public, plan to hold a peaceful procession to the Deputy President’s official residence in Karen. Our goal is to reinstall Rigathi Gachagua as the rightful Deputy President designate, based on the 2022 electoral mandate.”
However, Commander Sedah dismissed the notice and emphasized that the protest would not be allowed to move forward.
He revealed that anti-riot police officers had already been deployed to block access to the residence. Roads leading to the DP’s home were under tight surveillance to prevent any unauthorized gatherings.
“The proposed demonstration at the Deputy President’s official residence in Karen is not permitted. We have deployed officers along key roads in the area to ensure no unauthorized individuals gain access,” Sedah stated firmly.
He added that the protest, if allowed, could lead to serious security concerns and public unrest near the highly protected residence, which cannot be compromised under any circumstances.
This political standoff traces back to a ruling issued on May 9 by the Court of Appeal. The court determined that Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu had overstepped her legal authority when she appointed a three-judge bench to hear Gachagua’s impeachment case.
According to the ruling, only the Chief Justice has the constitutional mandate to form such a panel.
Because of this finding, the appellate court directed Chief Justice Martha Koome to set up a new bench within 14 days to properly hear the petitions that challenge the legality of Gachagua’s removal from office.
Despite the heated political climate and threats of protest, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki carried on with his normal duties.
On Tuesday morning, he chaired a high-level cabinet meeting at his Karen residence. The meeting brought together various Cabinet Secretaries (CSs) and Principal Secretaries (PSs) to discuss national development matters.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, who attended the meeting, later stated that the discussions centered around strengthening public service delivery and aligning government policies with key development goals.
“We focused on improving inter-agency coordination, streamlining government policy, and ensuring more efficient service delivery across all sectors,” Murkomen said. “As a government, we remain committed to strengthening governance, advancing infrastructure, growing the economy, and ensuring accountability. Our aim is to build a resilient and inclusive Kenya for all citizens.”
The situation remains tense, with security forces maintaining a strong presence around Kindiki’s residence. It is yet to be seen whether the protesting leaders will proceed with their plans or comply with the police directive.
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