By Augustine Oduor and Felix Olick
Nairobi, Kenya: Movement around the Supreme Court has been restricted as the police heightened security ahead of the much awaited election petition ruling.
All roads around the highest court remain cordoned with only accredited journalists allowed to walk through.
Wabera street area next to Nakumatt supermarket, City hall way and the Parliament road junction next to Intercontinental Hotel have been blocked.
Sections of Harambee Avenue also remain closed to random public movement.
Armed GSU, administration and regular police are stationed at strategic points around the court with some patrolling the area.
One of the police officers told the Standard that they have been in the area from as early as 3am.
Speaking on Friday, Inspector General of police David Kimaiyo asked the public to stay away from the areas surrounding the Supreme Court.
Kimaiyo said the police is aware of plans by some individuals to stage demonstrations when the ruling doesn’t favour their side.
He said in Nairobi, supporters have been briefed to converge outside the court with a view of kick-starting widespread demonstration.
“This is aimed at attracting both local and international attention portraying the country as ungovernable,” he said.
He said some university students, teachers, and medical personnel, trade unions and some tertiary colleges students have been mobilized to participate in the demonstrations.
“Criminal groups have also been detailed to stage confrontations in case the court ruling goes against their expectations,” he said.
He however warned that the law is supreme and noted that the police will be vigilant to quash any forms of lawlessness.
“We will deal firmly with any individuals or groups bent on advancing insecurity and lawlessness in the guise of freedom to associate, assemble or demonstrate,” he said.
Kimaiyo asked Kenyans to remain calm and observe peace as the Supreme Court makes their ruling on the election petition today.
At the same time, crowding outside the Supreme Court during proceedings has been prohibited.
He asked Kenyans for being peaceful and managed to hold together the entire period of the hearings and asked them to be patriotic once more.
“We expect Kenyans to show national solidarity by displaying high level of maturity and calmness that we portrayed during this post election period,” he said.
But he also warned that ‘some people’ are distributing dangerous crude weapons among communities living in various parts of the country.
Addressing the press in his office, Kimaiyo named Kibera, Mathare, Dandora, Kariobangi and some ‘known areas in the coastal regions’ are the places under watch.
“These weapons are not meant for any good but to cause harm and mayhem to innocent and unsuspecting Kenyans,” he said.
Kimaiyo also said that some reports point at some evictions of persons in Nairobi, Nakuru, Wajir, Eldoret, Kericho, Bomet, Coast and Nyanza.
He warned on any possible evictions of persons adding that everyone shall be held accountable for their actions.
The Criminal Investigations Director Ndegwa Muhoro was also present at the media brief. Police also said they are investigating some individuals over remarks they made verbally of through social media.
“We wish to advise leaders issuing statements that are tantamount to incitement, hate speech and negative stereotype to desist from doing so,” he said.
“Police and other law enforcement agencies are monitoring those suspected to be inciting people to violence with a view of arresting them,” he added.
