A deadly clash between protesters and security officers is expected today after both sides maintained hardline stances as of last evening.

While the President William Ruto administration has maintained the youth are being funded to replace democracy with anarchy, Gen Zs, the main participators in the protests, have on their part said they are only pushing for accountability.

According to an operation order, about 1,000 officers drawn from various police and other security services have been deployed ahead of today’s protests.

Though Kenyans intending to participate in the demonstrations were advised to seek permission from the local police commanders, the station commanders have been directed not to issue any permits.

In Nairobi, officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) will be conducting covert operations including identifying targets as they mingle with the protesters. Most of them have been directed not to carry firearms but to arm themselves with pens and notebooks.

“Officers are to carry black face masks, notebooks, pens and handcuffs. The in charge of the officers is to carry a firearm,” the brief to the officers read.

All Sub-County Criminal Investigations Officers (SCCIO) are expected to release eight officers each and they are expected to assemble at Embakasi Police Station at 5 am.

No access to JKIA

The officers have been directed to use any means possible to ensure the protesters do not access any of the city’s vital installations, including the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

Deputy police chief  Douglas Kanja Kanja last evening warned that protesters will not be allowed to access the JKIA as it is classified as one of the vital and protected areas. “In light of the demonstrations planned for July 23, 2024, it is critical to firmly remind the public of the legal boundaries that govern access to protected areas,” he said. He added that the Protected Areas Act prevents the entry of  unauthorized persons into areas which have been declared to be protected areas.

The other areas around JKIA include the LPG Plant, the Bitumen Plant and the Petroleum depots situated at the Embakasi Aviation Depot (JKIA).

The police boss also warned that the Kenya Civil Aviation Act on trespass provides that any person who trespasses on any land forming part of a  Government aerodrome or an aerodrome licensed under regulations made under this Act commits an offence punishable by law.

“We urge all individuals participating in demonstrations to respect these legal

provisions and refrain from attempting to enter or interfere with protected areas,” he added.

The National Police Service Commission (NPSC) chairman Eliud Kinuthia however yesterday called on security officers to exercise restraint when handling protestors following the public outcry of police brutality during Gen Z’s protests.

“Do not allow anger to come in when you are doing your job professionally. Handle the citizens with care, handle the citizens the way they should, especially in the light of the many crowd control and public order events that we have seen going on,” he said.

The Kenya Kwanza allied MCAs and business community members have also threatened to counter the protesters should they insist on going on with their plans.

On July 17, the acting Inspector General Douglas Kanja while banning the protests said they had credible on possible infiltration of criminals.

He, however, later said he had not banned them and only issued an alert.

“The nature of public demonstrations is dynamic, and intelligence regarding everyone’s safety and security is evolving and will continue to inform our planning and guidelines,” Kanja said.

He further said that according to the Public Order Act, any individual who intends to organize a public gathering or procession must notify the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) in charge of the area in writing at least three days but not more than 14 days prior.

“The application should specify the full names and physical address of the organizer, as well as the proposed route in the case of a public procession,” he added.

According to Kanja, the international security standards for public assemblies require designated leaders to coordinate, collaborate and cooperate with police for peaceful demonstrations.

“Lack of designated leadership in previous demonstrations has made it difficult to enforce safety protocols,” he said.

The government has maintained that some organizations and individuals fund the protests. Sources said a brother to a senior politician, a Kenyan based abroad and a senior journalist, are some of the people behind these protests.

Another clash is likely to be experienced between government supporters and the protesters, with the former maintaining that the continued demos have had businesses in the capital Nairobi and other major towns remain disrupted with little to no economic activity.

Chaos erupting from the protests have created tension as business people close down their premises in fear of looting and destruction of their properties as protests are flipping over from being peaceful to dark demonstrations.

In anticipation of today’s protests, the Nairobi Business Community also issued a statement yesterday condemning the recent looting, destruction of property and loss of human lives that was witnessed across the city of Nairobi, Kitengela and other parts of the city.

The community said that they supported the initial agenda of guaranteeing a conducive environment through the rejection of the Finance Bill 2024.

“The initial protests by Gen Zs were peaceful with zero lawlessness but after the fall of the Finance Bill 2024 we started witnessing unprecedented chaos that has driven thousands of our members out of business,” they said. 

They claimed that the police were powerless due to the courts’ restraint of using weapons to restrain rogue protesters and were overpowered in many areas, which exposed their businesses at risk and at the mercy of goons who had infiltrated the protests.

“The court has since issued an order to restrain the police from using teargas or weapons to contain rogue protesters. This makes police powerless and unable to protect the properties which will expose our business to more looting,” the statement said.