A Kisii don has hailed High Court’s decision to decline a petition filed by Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria seeking to halt opposition’s demonstrations on grounds that they were illegal.
A Nairobi court on Monday gave Cord coalition a go ahead saying demonstrations and picketing were part of the constitutional rights to all Kenyans.
Professor Nyachieo Bogonko said the decision was timely since the new constitution had outlined various freedoms and rights for Kenyans which could not be violated and urged police to give security to Kenyans who engages in demonstrations.
“I want to laud the High Court for upholding constitutional rights for Kenyans. No one is above the law and the civil rights of people have to be respected,” he said during a phone interview on Tuesday.
“The ruling on IEBC demonstrations was timely and its time that our police come to terms and start exercising their mandate by giving Kenyans security rather than engaging them in running battles,” Bogonko added.
He, however, warned demonstrators against engaging in unscrupulous activities and challenged the police to take actions against those who may violate the constitutional provision.
“The most fundamental thing here is that the law should be followed. The ruling doesn’t give people opportunity to loot and bring businesses to a stand still. It’s about matching peacefully and passing the message. Police should be tough on those who may be found trying to break the law,” he added.