MP Ruku Tables Bill Banning ‘Noise’ During Demonstrations
The National Police Service has called for strong measures to handle demonstrations, including a ban on all types of noise during protests.
The NPS and the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) testified before the National Assembly’s Committee on Administration and Internal Security.
They urged legislators to include the proposal for noise cancellation in the Assembly and Demonstration Bill 2024, which was introduced by Mbeere North MP Geoffrey Ruku.
Led by James Nduma, the Director of Legal Services at the NPSC, police authorities urged the House committee to consider their requests, arguing that there should be a clear distinction between noise and demonstrations.
“There must be a way of separating noise from demonstrations so that we do not have a group that has hired a DJ to run around town, entertaining town, and then in the middle they will say what they want to say,” Nduma urged.
“We want those two to be demonstrated so that you are only allowed to demonstrate and make your petition known without involving noise in your demonstration,” he added.
DEMOS WITHOUT NOISE
— KBC Channel 1 News (@KBCChannel1) February 18, 2025
National Police Service wants Parliament to outlaw noise during demos
Members of Parliament considering Assembly and Demonstration Bill 2024#PrimeEdition@MuchumaOdim pic.twitter.com/iXBOJ9Wrmz
However, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) warned members of Parliament against passing regulations that would further limit citizens’ fundamental rights.
Furthermore, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) rejected the idea and bill, claiming that it would give the police more power while further restricting citizen freedom.
“This bill, in our view, gives wide discretion and powers and is overly broad,” Festus Kinoti, the Director of Legal Services at IPOA, pointed out.
“The manner of limiting rights is already provided for in the Constitution, and it requires that when you are limiting rights, it must be specific on the nature and extent of that limitation.”
The IPOA requested that the bill be withdrawn to allow for an ongoing examination of the Public Order Act, which controls public meetings, processions, and protests to maintain peace and security.
It specifies the roles of organisers, law enforcement, and the general public in maintaining public order at events.
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Furthermore, they expressed major reservations about the proposed Assembly and Demonstration Bill 2024.
This occurred during a consultative meeting with the committee chaired by Gabriel Tongoyo (Narok West) and important stakeholders such as government agencies and civil society organisations.
In its contributions, the Katiba Institute, a constitutional and human rights group, criticized the bill as unlawful, defective, and based on colonial-era constraints.
The institute also contended that the bill is just another attempt by the state to stymie the country’s democratic process.
MP Ruku Tables Bill Banning ‘Noise’ During Demonstrations
