Ten Arrested as Police Foil Saba Saba Protests
Ten protesters were arrested on Tuesday after attempting to stage demonstrations in Nairobi's Central Business District during the Saba Saba commemoration.
Plainclothes and uniformed police officers detained the protesters before the demonstrations could begin.Nairobi Regional Police Commander
Issa Mohamud has described this year's Saba Saba demonstrations in the capital as largely peaceful, saying only 10 people were arrested as police maintained law and order throughout the day.
Addressing the press after the protests, Mohamud said six suspects were arrested in the Pangani area while four others were apprehended within the Central Police Station jurisdiction.
Police said they would continue reviewing the day's events as investigations into the 10 arrests continue.
From early morning, it was evident that police were determined to stop the planned protest, with dozens of officers cordoning off Jevanjee Gardens, the initial assembly point where activists had planned to gather before marching to Parliament.
After organisers shifted the meeting point to Aga Khan Walk, police again moved in and arrested demonstrators who attempted to march towards Parliament via Harambee Avenue.
The activists later addressed the media at All Saints Cathedral, accusing the police of violating their constitutional right to assemble and picket peacefully by disrupting the planned demonstrations.
The police boss, however, warned individuals who take advantage of demonstrations to engage in criminal activities, saying police would firmly deal with anyone involved in vandalism, looting or destruction of property.
"There must be order. If you love your country, you should uphold peace. Lakini kama unatafuta pesa kwa NGOs kuharibu mali ya watu, hiyo hatutakubali," he said.
He also rejected allegations that police officers were involved in abductions, insisting that the National Police Service operates within the law.
"And we don't do abductions, we are police officers. The whole day, we have been here," Mohamud said.
The Saba Saba protests are held annually to commemorate the July 7, 1990 pro-democracy movement.
In Nairobi, security officers maintained a heavy presence in key areas to monitor the demonstrations and prevent incidents of violence or destruction of property as protesters marched through sections of the city.