Speaker Moses Wetang'ula has called on the review of the laws governing protests. Photo: Moses Wetang'ula X.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has called for the review of protests law, claiming that the laws governing protests have been abused and violated in recent protests in the country.
Speaking in Kabuchoi Nandi county during a women empowerment drive, Wetang’ula said that the right enshrined in Article 37 of the Constitution only guarantees peaceful assembly, and not looting, destruction of property as witnessed in a series of protests in the country in June 25 and July 7.
He called on the Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah to look into reviewing the laws, after people were injured and dead during the two peaceful protests that turned chaotic and deadly.
“We should look at the law again, the Constitution gives everyone the right to demonstrate, picket to present petitions to office of authority. There is no law in Kenya that gives anybody authority to riot, to destroy property, to rape women, to kill people and do all negative things,” Wetang’ula said.
Citing the rule governing protests in the UK, where protesters are allowed to protest but take accountability of any consequences from the protests, stating that they want a replica of the same in the country.
The calls to review laws governing were first presented by Nairobi County Women Representative Esther Passaris, who said that protesters should be barred from accessing government institutions including Parliament, State House, the judiciary among others, directing that protesters stay 1oo metres from them during protests.
Wetang’ula further accused former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for inciting youths into the unrest in the country, and fleeing to the United States for refugee. He stated that the former DP is a threat to national security, sentiments that were further echoed by Ichungw’ah.
“Those telling our youths to go and attack people’s businesses, watoto wao wako ng’ambo, where they study. You have seen the guy from Wamunyoro travelling to the United States to go and talk to his people,” he further remarked.
Ichung’wah further reaffirmed that the people linked to deadly Saba Saba protests will be held accountable regardless of their political status.
The Speaker was accompanied with Senate Majority Whip David Wakoli, MPs Silvanus Osoro, Kakai Bissau, Nabii Nabwera, John Waluke, and Dick Maungu.
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