The deployment of Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) troops as a reinforcement for National Police Service Officers (NPS) officers in managing youth-led protests in various parts of the country has taken a fresh twist.
Milimani High Court Magistrate Justice Lawrence Mugambi in a ruling on Thursday, June 27, 2024 upheld the deployment of KDF to assist police in managing anti-finance bill protesters across the country.
The court has however, directed the state to issue the scope, duration and areas of military intervention within two days.
Earlier, Attorney General (AG) Justin Muturi in his submission had asked the Court to dismiss the application which had been made by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK).
LSK challenged KDF deployment to quell protests which AG Muturi in his submission dismissed arguing that Parliament approval should be presumed legal and valid.
Following the application, the High Court was expected to rule on whether the government’s decision to deploy KDF soldiers to help police deal with protesters is constitutional.
KDF in the streets of Nairobi
However, military personnel had already been deployed on Thursday morning pending the determination by the Court, with Kenyans witnessing heavy military presence in various parts of Nairobi.
Also Read: LIVE UPDATES: KDF Deployed at Nyayo Stadium
In photos seen by The Kenya Times, a heavy contingent of officers from the armed forces was spotted at Nyayo Stadium ahead of planned anti-Finance Bill protests in Nairobi.
Also seen was miliary vehicles including an armored KDF vehicle at the scene, with the KDF officers seen taking briefs from their seniors before deployment.
The contingent of officers was later spotted leaving the Stadium and went back to their Lang’ata Barracks base following their departure from the temporary holding ground.
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A few moments later KDF personnel were seen patrolling City streets within the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD).
In photos and videos, the KDF personnel could be seen snaking through protestors, but they stayed short of engaging them.
However, police on the other hand lobbed teargas of pockets of protestors around the city as they attempted to access the CBD. Police were also seen arresting some protestors who were participating in the demos
LSK Petition
The petition by LSK aimed at seeking to stop the state from deploying military officers to the streets.
The lawyers argued that no emergency, unrest or instability has been officially declared to exist in Kenya to warrant the deployment of the KDF to provide support to the police.
This petition by LSK was made after Defense Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Tuesday evening issued a gazette notice in regard to the deployment following deadly protests that rocked the country especially in the capital Nairobi.
Duale issued the notice before Members of Parliament (MPs) on Wednesday passed the resolution, with the National Assembly approving the deployment of KDF officers within the country to restore order after Tuesday’s protests.
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