A UK-based civil society organisation has called on security agencies to respect the law during the Saba Saba memorial demonstrations.
The Justice and Equity Council, through its chairman Sebastian Onyango, urged police to protect protesters while maintaining peace and order.
Group urges police to respect constitutional rights
Onyango said the organisation wants security officers to follow the Constitution when handling demonstrations.
“Kenyans are watching, the whole world is watching, and if you make mistakes, history will judge those responsible for such actions,” Onyango said.
The organisation said police should maintain peace without harming innocent protesters.
It also expressed solidarity with Kenyans who support the rule of law and constitutional freedoms.
Police urged to allow peaceful demonstrations
According to Onyango, the Inspector General of Police should ensure officers respect the right to peaceful assembly.
He urged authorities to protect lives and property during the demonstrations.
“We urge the Inspector General of Police to follow the Constitution while handling demonstrators and allow peaceful demonstrations,” he said.
Civil society raises concerns over police brutality
The organisation said Kenya has experienced cases of police brutality, abductions, and illegal killings since independence.
Onyango said such incidents should end to protect citizens’ rights.
The group emphasised that security agencies must balance maintaining order with respecting constitutional freedoms.
Saba Saba demonstrations linked to Kenya’s history
The Saba Saba memorial demonstrations recall Kenya’s political history and struggles for democratic rights.
In 1963, Kenya experienced the beginning of the Shifta War, a conflict that lasted from 1963 to 1967.
The conflict mainly involved calls for the secession of the Northern Frontier District (NFD) and its possible union with Somalia.
The newly independent Kenyan government responded by declaring a state of emergency in the region and deploying security forces to address the insurgency.
