Governor Nyong’o bans demos in Kisumu CBD
Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o has banned protests in the lakeside town unless when called by Nasa, ODM or County Government.
Prof Nyong’o said that just as the National government policy states that demonstrators must inform the police on their plans, the County Government also must be notified on any such plans.
“That is a national government policy and we can’t interfere with it. But as a County we must also know what is going on so that we can explain if asked,” Prof Nyong’o told Nation on Thursday.
He went on: “Anybody wanting to read ulterior motives on it is a saboteur of our peace and need to spur development in this County.”
The Governor lamented that criminals had taken advantage of street protests to destroy property and loot.
“We have had criminals taking law unto their hands and organizing demonstrations nobody knows about,” he said.
VIOLENT DEMOS
“The party leadership had said; that we are not participating in this elections. So whatever the Supreme Court decided did not concern us. Secondly, when we met with the party leader as Governors we decided that our civil disobedience demos would only be held in Nairobi.”
That, he said, was communicated to the public in a communique from Nasa.
On Monday, spontaneous protests rocked parts of Kisumu following the Supreme Court verdict on the October 26 election where it upheld President Uhuru Kenyatta’s victory.
The violent demos mainly at Kondele led to the burning of two vehicles and vandalism of a telecommunication mast.
In an interview with Nation, Prof Nyong’o said: “For somebody to decide on their own that they are demonstrating in Kisumu without consultation with the party or the County Government, then they must have other intentions other than ours.”