Police bodyguards seconded to Azimio La Umoja coalition leaders who are planning to attend Tuesday protests were Monday recalled in a surprise move.
Their commander sent a random message to all police officers attached to VIPs from the coalition ordering them to report to the Security of Government Building offices and return their weapons.
This is perhaps meant to intimidate and stop the leaders from participating in the protests.
“To all officers whose VIPs will participate in tomorrow's demonstration (Maandamano) you are advised not to accompany them (VIPs) on the same, instead you are supposed to report to U/Camp, return your firearms at the SGB armory and be on standby at the Unit Headquarters as you await for onward communication,” read part of the message sent to the officers.
The VIPs who include Members of Parliament are usually guarded by police officers. The move by police authorities is also seen as part of efforts to avoid confrontations between anti-riot police and the bodyguards.
There are plans to approach the Tuesday protests differently. This may end up having several arrests, officials said even though they know the move is illegal given the constitution guarantees the freedom to stage protests.
There are also fears rival groups mobilized by political leaders may cause mayhem. Police said they are aware of the move and announced they had not sought help from any quarter.
Nairobi police boss Adamson Bungei warned any group against engaging in confrontations saying they have enough personnel to deal with the situation.
“Those will be deemed criminals. We don’t need any help from such people,” he said.
Anti-riot police deployed to disperse any group planning a protest have been ordered to employ new tactics before they charge at the protesters. Police believe the protests will be held majorly in Nairobi.
The anti-riot teams have been supplied with loudspeakers that they will use in declaring a proclamation before charging at the protesters.
They will announce the meeting or protest is unlawful and read the sections of the law they are citing before taking any action.
There are plans to disperse and make arrests as part of ways of defusing the protesters. Dozens of anti-riot police officers have been mobilized from police colleges and other formations for the mission.
Major roads and especially those leading to State House were barricaded by police from Monday night ahead of the protests.
This is after the Azimio group declared their plans to stage anti-government protests are ongoing despite police declaration the move had been banned and is illegal.
There are almost 1,200 new officers who were mobilized from other areas and brought to Nairobi for the mission.
The top security committee, the National Security Advisory Committee met Monday to discuss the planned Azimio protests amid fears of more chaos.
Whereas some members of NSAC felt there was a need to allow the protests to go as it is a constitutional requirement, others opposed it saying the president had already commented on the same issue and they had to go as per his remarks and hence ban the protests.
The committee advises various organs on the current state of affairs. It met under the chairmanship of the head of public service Felix Koskei at Harambee House. Several Principal Secretaries who are members attended.
It was then decided to mobilize more police officers to Nairobi to block major routes the protesters plan to use.
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