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NAIROBI. – A Kenyan court has suspended a move by the police to ban protests in the capital, Nairobi, and surrounding areas “until further notice”.
The police on Wednesday issued the order citing their leaderless nature that has made it difficult to enforce safety, adding the protests had been “infiltrated by criminals”.
It came after a month of anti-government protests in which scores of people have been killed.
More protests had been planned for Thursday in the city but failed to take off.
Police said had “no demonstrations will be permitted in the Nairobi Central Business District and its surroundings until further notice to ensure public safety”.
The high court later temporarily suspended the order pending the hearing of a suit filed by a civil rights organisation.
The ban has sparked outrage online, with some arguing that the police do not have such powers, as Kenyan law gives citizens the right to hold demonstrations. There was a heavy police presence in the capital in anticipation of the protests.
Acting head of police Douglas Kanja said in a statement that the decision was taken after receiving “credible intelligence that organised criminal groups are planning to take advantage of the ongoing protests”. – BBC.com
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