"JKIA is out of bounds!" Police boss warns protestors

Acting Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has maintained that protected areas are strictly out of bounds to protestors and warned all unauthorised persons not to trespass on them.

The police boss cited the Protected Areas Act Cap 204 further warning that all found contravening the law will be will be punished and dealt with swiftly, firmly, and decisively.

"The Service reiterates that protected areas are out of bounds to unauthorised persons as indicated in the Protected Areas Act Cap 204 Laws of Kenya. For the avoidance of doubt, protected areas listed under the Protected Areas Order (Legal Notice No. 9 of 2011) Second Schedule, includes among others, the LPG Plant, the Bitumen Plant and Petroleum depots situated at the Embakasi

Aviation Depot (JKIA)," Kanja said.

"The Kenya Civil Aviation Act No. 21 of 2013 under Section 58, provides that any person who trespasses on any land forming part of a Government aerodrome or an aerodrome licensed under regulations made under the Act commits an offence punishable by law."

Addressing a press briefing from Jogoo House on Tuesday, Kanja pleaded with Kenyans to be vigilant while in crowds and share information that will help deter crime ahead of Tuesday's planned protests.

"The security of our country is our collective responsibility. Towards this end we are working with other agencies to ensure that the country is safe and secure to all of us. We also appeal to all members of the public to remain vigilant in crowded areas and share any information that may assist us in detecting and preventing crime," he added.

Kanja further commended his juniors for working hard under difficult circumstances.

Acting Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja flanked by DCI Director Mohamed Amin and other senior police officials during a press briefing at Jogoo House, Nairobi on July 23, 2024. (Photo: Justine Ondieki)

"I also urge all officers to continue serving without fear or intimidation. The National Police Service remains committed to upholding the rule of law," he said.

"Credible intel"

Kanja said credible intelligence now shows that the continued protests have become a haven of goons, motivated and opportunistic offenders to loot and destroy businesses of innocent and hardworking Kenyans leading to chaos and a disturbing state of disorder where they take place.

"This state of disorder would have been completely avoidable had protesters taken into consideration the simple legal provisions under the Public Order Act that require organisers of protests or public processions to inform the police or the regulating officers in time," he argued.

Kanja added that the magnitude of loss that the country has suffered is evident in the lives that have been lost, the people both civilians and police officers that have been injured, and property including police vehicles and businesses that have been destroyed.

"Despite these losses, the service has upheld with utmost respect the rights of all the people, peaceably and unarmed to assemble, demonstrate, picket and present petitions to public authorities as guaranteed by Article 37 of the Constitution," he said.

The police boss used the briefing to further allay fears of insecurity in the country following security alerts from several embassies warning their citizens against travelling to Nairobi over the protests.

"Our security is good, we are okay. What we are referring to is that when we have unauthorised demonstrations and having people disrupt activities in protected areas, that cannot happen," he explained.