By Ritah Kemigisa:
Kenya’s Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiangi has reassured Kenyans of total security amid growing tension as opposition supporters stage protests in different parts of the country.
The protests were sparked by the official declaration of president Uganda Kenyatta as winner of Tuesday’s election.
Addressing journalists in the Kenyan capital Nairobi this afternoon, Matiangi said that whereas citizens enjoy the right to demonstrate, it should be done without causing any threat to national security.
He says the country is largely safe save for pockets of violence reported in Mathare, Kisumu and Kibera.
He has also cautioned some sections of the media that have been broadcasting old footage of previous post election violence, reiterating the call for responsible use of social media.
Earlier, religious leaders have asked Kenyans to keep peace following declaration of Uhuru Kenyatta as the presidential winner of the 8th August general election.
Their call comes amidst ongoing protests by opposition supporters in different parts on Kenya like Kisumu, Kibera, Mathare who claim the election results were not fair.
Addressing journalists this morning a section of catholic priests called upon the aggrieved parties to use legal means to contest the announced results and not use defiant means like protests.
They have meanwhile also tasked police not to use excessive force on protesters.
Meanwhile, the two journalists who were earlier arrested in Kenya for covering the protests in Kibera have been released on a police bond of KSH 3,000 each and are expected to appear in court on August 16.
The two were earlier charged for having unlicensed bullet proof gear.
Protesters vandalised properties and burnt stalls as the police tried to disperse the rowdy youths in Kibera slum.
This was after Uhuru Kenyatta was announced the winner of 2017 presidential election with 8,203,290 votes (54%), against Opposition leader Raila Odinga’s 6,762,224 votes (44%).
