A High Court in Kenya has announced a temporary suspension of a ban placed on opposition protests by the government.
The suspension was ordered by the court on Tuesday after a leading member of the opposition National Super Alliance Norman Magaya filed a case challenging the ban.
The ban was placed on the anti-IEBC protests in the central business districts of Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.
Kenya’s Interior minister Fred Matiangi last week said that the ban was to protect citizens and property. The minister cited Section 56 of the country’s Public Order Act to back the decision after a National Security Advisory Committee meeting.
The decision “was due to the clear and imminent danger, for the time being”, the minister said, according to Daily Nation.
Dr Matiangi said Kenya “cannot go on this way. It is unfortunate to see people’s cars being smashed, property being destroyed in the guise of a peaceful demonstrations. We must respect the law,”
But leaders and supporters of the opposition Nasa party have defied the ban as they continue to hold series of protests across the country to protest against the election commission.
Deaths and injuries have been recorded since last week as police officers clash with protesters.
The high court judge who ordered the lifting of the ban also blocked the arrest and prosecution of leaders of Nasa over the demonstrations in order for the case filed against the ban is fully heard in court.
Fresh presidential election is expected to be held on October 26 after the August 8 poll results were annulled by the Supreme Court.
Source: Africafeeds.com
