NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Police in Kenya on Thursday indefinitely banned protests in the capital, saying there was no leadership in place to ensure peaceful protests.
The ban was announced hours before a planned protest later on Thursday, in which demonstrators were to march to the president’s office to demand his resignation over misrule.
Acting Police Inspector General Douglas Kanja said in a statement that the lack of leadership “has made it difficult to enforce safety protocols.”
Recent protests have left businesses struggling with losses due to looting and arson.
No protesters had been seen on Thursday, but the main roads leading to the president’s office remained barricaded by police.
Kenya has seen a month of protests that began with calls for lawmakers to vote against a controversial finance bill that proposed higher taxes amid a cost of living crisis and The national debt is rising.
At least 50 people have been killed since the protests began on June 18, according to Kenya’s National Human Rights Commission.
President William Ruto said he would support the finance bill passed by Parliament on June 25, the day the protesters… stormed and part of the building burnedcausing lawmakers to flee. The president last week almost his entire cabinet was fired and the Attorney General, as demanded by protesters who accused ministers of incompetence, corruption and displays of opulence.
Some businesses in Nairobi remained closed on a rainy morning ahead of planned protests on Thursday. Police remained heavily deployed around the central business district and patrolled the streets.
Police have been accused of brutality against protesters. Former Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome said on Friday resigned after protesters called on him to take responsibility for shooting protesters.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority said on Wednesday that it has referred four out of 10 cases of police brutality to the director of public prosecutions, along with recommendations.
The watchdog had recorded witness statements and ordered several police officers to appear before the watchdog to give their evidence.
Kenyan police officers have been accused of brutality in the past. A group of 400 officers are currently in the Caribbean country of Haiti to lead a UN-backed police mission to combat gang violence.
