Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has revealed that the Assembly and Demonstration Bill will make the 2010 constitution more powerful.

Okiya stated that the bill sponsored by Member of Parliament for Mbeere North Geoffrey Kiringa Ruku will give effect to Article 37 of the Constitution which provides for the regulation of the right of assembly and demonstration.

 “The Assembly and Demonstration Bill, No. 28 of 2024 sponsored by Mbeere North Member of Parliament, Hon. Geoffrey Kiringa Ruku, @gk_ruku seeks to give effect to Article 37 of the Constitution; to provide for the regulation of the right of assembly and demonstration, and for connected purposes,” Okiya said.

Okiya further stated that every Kenyan citizen has a right to hold a peaceful demonstration, assemble, and present petitions to public authorities.

“Constitution of Kenya 2010 Article 37. Assembly, demonstration, picketing, and petition states; that every person has the right, peaceably and unarmed, to assemble, to demonstrate, to picket, and to present petitions to public authorities,” Okiya added.

The Assembly and Demonstration Bill, No. 28 of 2024 sponsored by Mbeere North Member of Parliament, Hon. Geoffrey Kiringa Ruku @gk_ruku seeks to give effect to Article 37 of the Constitution; to provide for the regulation of the right of assembly and demonstration, and for… pic.twitter.com/bu6NcrCzr9

— Okiya Omtatah Okoiti (@OkiyaOmtatah) June 17, 2024

Tuesday demos

Okiya’s sentiments come after Activist Boniface Mwangi took to his official social media page on Friday, June 14, 2024, to reveal a planned demonstration against over-taxation.

Urging the Inspector of Police (IG) Japheth to respect Article 37 of the constitution, Boniface stated that the demos would be held on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, at noon outside parliament buildings.

“On Tuesday, June 18, 2024, at (noon), we shall #OccupyParliament. Citizens, Rise Against Overtaxation by Zakayo.  IG Koome to provide police to protect us as he RESPECTS Article 37 of the Constitution: The right to protest and picket. See you at parliament on Tuesday,” he said.

While giving the updates on the demos, the activist on Sunday, June 16, 2024, disclosed that he has delivered notification letters to the offices of the Officer Commanding Police Division, Central Police Station, OCS Central, and Parliament Police Station as well as the IG.

“I personally delivered #OccupyParliament notification letters to the offices of the Officer Commanding Police Division, Central Police Station, OCS Central, and Parliament Police Station. I also sent a WhatsApp message to Inspector General Of National Police Service Japheth Koome. On Tuesday we picket #RejectFinanceBill2024,” Boniface said.

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