 |
| Interior CS Prof. Kithure Kindiki |
Ahead of anti-government protests that the Azimio opposition alliance is planning to organise starting on Wednesday this week, the government has called for the temporary shutdown of all-day primary and secondary schools in Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu.
Several criminal elements have strategies to attack particular institutions of learning in the three counties in order to “unleash terror and violence on the public” during the demonstrations, according to a joint statement from Interior CS Prof. Kithure Kindiki and his Education counterpart Ezekiel Machogu.
According to the announcement to the media, “The Government has been provided with substantial information from security sources that criminal individuals planned to become involved in armed clashes with security agencies around certain schools in Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu.”
“As a preventative approach in order to guarantee the safety of schoolchildren, it has been concluded that ALL daytime primary and secondary schools within Nairobi and Mombasa cities SHALL REmain closed tomorrow.”
Following an evaluation of the security status on Wednesday, the Education Ministry will declare the start of classes at the aforementioned institutions.
Before the two CSs’ announcement, Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome issued a statement that deemed the envisioned Azimio demonstrations to be unlawful.
Koome claims that as of Tuesday night, the Raila Odinga-led group had not formally notified the police of the expected meetings.
Thus, he issued a warning to Kenyans not to take part in the demonstrations, stating that the police would deal with protesters as a result.
