The state has ordered for the closure of all day primary and secondary schools in Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu ahead of Azimio la Umoja One Kenya’s planned protests.
The protests are set to go on for three consecutive days starting Wednesday, July 19 through to Friday, July 21.
Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki in a joint statement with his Education counterpart CS Ezekiel Machogu noted that credible intelligence reports have revealed plans by criminal elements to unleash terror and violence during Wednesday’s anti-government protests.
“The Government has received credible security intelligence that criminal elements intend to engage in armed skirmishes with security agencies around certain schools within Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu,” reads part of the statement seen by The Kenya Times.
As such, the government sought to close day-schools in the three counties as a precautionary measure to ensure safety of school going children.
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“As a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of school children, it has been decided that ALL day Primary and Secondary schools within Nairobi and Mombasa cities SHALL remain closed tomorrow.” The statement further reads.
Nevertheless, the Ministry of Education stated that they will announce resumption of learning in the affected schools after evaluating the security situation in the country on Wednesday, July 19.
Azimio Gives Way Foward on Protests
The statement by the Ministry of Interior and Education comes a few hours after Azimio la Umoja One Kenya during a press conference announced that protests will go on as earlier planned.
Moreover, NARC Kenya Party leaders Martha Karua affirmed that the protests will take place despite the state withdrawing security details of top Azimio politicians.
“At mid-day tomorrow, we ask Kenyans to come out of their homes and bang sufurias, pots and pans to signify lack of food. Motorists to hoot and flashlights in support of the movement,” she said.
Azimio Protests are Illegal
However, Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome in a statement on Tuesday, July 18 declared that the planned demonstrations by the opposition are illegal.
“In line with NPS mandate to maintain law and order; protect life and property; and preserve peace, we wish to inform the public that any demonstrations that will be held in any part of Kenya on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, will be dealt with promptly in accordance with the law,” the police boss stated.
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IG Koome noted that Azimio had not submitted any formal notification to the police on the planned protests.
“Contrary to the legal requirements, no organizers/planners of the purported demonstrations have notified the Police of such gatherings.” Koome added.
