Lobby group notifies police of Saba Saba protests on Tuesday

The two-page notice has outlined the route to be used by about 3,000 participants to push for, among other things, parliamentary intervention on extra-judicial killings as well as enforced disappearances.

The group has served notice to the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, Nairobi regional police commander and the OCS of Central Police Station, outlining the intent to hold a procession on Tuesday.

In the two-page notice, Grassroots Economic Justice Movement said that between 1,000 and 3,000 participants will march from Jeevanjee Gardens to Parliament buildings, where they will present a petition.

The petition contains, among other things, parliamentary intervention on extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, as well as excessive use of force by security agencies….

The group further stated that the procession will remain peaceful, with volunteer marshals dispatched to assist with crowd management. 

This even as Makadara Member of Parliament George Aladwa said that ODM members will not participate in the march.

“We have said the government should provide security so people can continue with their work. Those who do casual labor should go because they earn money daily, because there are leaders who plan protests and then run away when that day comes. So we are saying those who want to go should go and the police should give them protection,” said Aladwa.

Saba Saba day commemorates the push for multi-party democracy in 1990, and is often marked by those pushing for systemic change.