Nairobi police assure June 25th protest victims' families of security ahead of Wednesday anniversary

The Nairobi Central Police Station has assured the mothers and families of the victims of last year’s anti-Finance Bill protests that their planned protest assembly set for Wednesday next week will be secured. 

Nairobi Central OCPD Stephen Okal, who met with the organisers of the protests, said his officers would provide adequate protection.

The bereaved families reiterated their plea for peace and cautioned against the infiltration of the protests by goons and politicians.

"Tunaweza fanya maombi nyumbani bado lakini nyumbani tutafanya mimi na familia yangu, tutawakisha candle, tutaomba lakini tukiwa pamoja naweza lia mwenzangu anitulize aseme tulia mama," Cynthia Anyango noted.

Craoline Mutisya, on her part, said: "Tumeungana sisi akina mama tuko wengi, tukuje na maua tuweke, kama mimi Eric alilalishwa hapo nje ya Parliament, ninataka niweke maua hapo nimkumbuke."

"Tunakuja kwa amani, hatutaki vurugu kwa sababu ilikuwa yaani walienda so soon, yaani hatukutarajia, tunakuja tu kuwaomboleza, mapolisi wametuahidi usalama, mimi nitakuja na mamangu," said Daniel Otieno.

Okal and officers at the Central Police Station on Saturday not only acknowledged receipt of the notification of the planned assembly, but also committed to ensuring the safety of all those who will come for the event.

"If you intend to cause any violence, on that day please jitenge na sisi, we do not want any violence that day, that is the most important clarion call, peace," noted Njanja Maina, the families’ lawyer.

Okal stated: "We have received the notification, and we’re working on the way forward on how to manage it, so that we can have a violent-free memorial service.”

The grieving families will not only march on that day, they will also present memoranda to Parliament and to the office of the President demanding justice for their loved ones, reforms within the police service and an end to extra judicial killings and abductions in the country.