Senior police officers hold key security meeting ahead of planned Thursday protests

Acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli held a meeting Tuesday with senior security officials at the Administration Police Training College in Embakasi ahead of the planned anti-government protests on Thursday.

Masengeli is expected to give an update on police preparedness for the planned event.

He confirmed this on Tuesday during the meeting with regional police commanders and leaders of the three services,

"Every Kenyan has liberty to picket, demonstrate and assemble as per the law. Where the privilege of one ends, is where the rights of the other begin. We are all Kenyans, we have to live by the rule of law. We are governed by the Rome statute and the Kenyan Constitution," he said.

Masengeli said criminal elements will be dealt with firmly.

"On GenZs, they have a message and they have been heard. It is upon us now to differentiate between GenZs and opportunists who take advantage of those riots to cause mayhem, destruction of property and acts of violence that are not allowed by the law," said the police boss.

Missing officer's body

On the whereabouts of the body of the officer who was swept by floods while rescuing a family in Nairobi’s Muthurwa area, Masengeli said the officer is yet to be found.

"The fact is that the officer lost his life while serving the nation and the people of Kenya. Unfortunately, his body has not been found up-to-date. The national disaster management team is teaming up with the police in efforts to retrieve the body," he said.

In response to recent images of officers conducting anti-protest operations in Nairobi, Masengela said any officer in civilian should carry his letter of appointment for identification during operations.

The meeting dubbed "National Security situation-challenges, opportunities and strategies" is meant to review some of the pressing security challenges facing the country and requiring immediate attention amongst them the rise in civil unrest, cybercrime and acts of terrorism.

"We are talking matters of General security," said Masengeli.

The meeting aimed at making the commanders adequately plan their responses and adopt a collaborative approach to the solutions to the challenges.