The High Court has temporarily suspended Acting Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja’s decision to ban public demonstrations by Kenyan youth in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD).

On Wednesday evening, the acting Inspector General announced an indefinite ban on protests in Nairobi, citing significant property damage and loss of lives due to criminal infiltrations since the protests began in June.

Justice Bahati Mwamuye issued the suspension on Thursday, pending a petition by the Katiba Institute challenging the ban.The court also prohibited the National Police Service from enforcing the ban.

“Pending the inter-partes hearing of the Application dated 18/07/2024, a conservatory order be and is hereby issued suspending the National Police Service’s decision carried in the Press Release dated 17/07/2024 that was titled “PLANNED PUBLIC DEMONSTRATIONS BY KENYAN YOUTHS ON JULY 18, 2024” and which was signed by the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Douglas Kanja Kirocho in terms of its prohibition of any and all demonstrations within the Nairobi Central Business and its surrounding areas,” ordered Justice Mwamuye.

The Katiba Institute’s petition argues that it is in the public interest to allow people to exercise their right to demonstrate peacefully and unarmed, and that the police should protect, not use excessive force against, those who assemble.