The government yesterday banned "unlawful" protests in the country after two people were killed in Kisumu and property destroyed during Cord's latest weekly anti-IEBC protests on Monday.
"To avert further violence and destruction of property, and loss of life, from today, the government prohibits all unlawful demonstrations in the country," Interior CS Joseph Nkaissery said.
During Monday's demonstrations, six supermarkets were destroyed and looted in Kisumu, and there was a failed attempt to burn Kondele police station.
Last night, Cord leaders dismissed the ban, describing it as unconstitutional.
"Nkaissery is not the law and has no power to stop any peaceful protest," Cord co-chair James Orengo said.
Nkaissery said demonstrators have failed to comply with the constitution and the law, which demands that they maintain peace and do not destroy property.
He said the protests have involved demonstrators armed with stones, machetes and crude weapons, barricading of roads using burning tires and destruction of private and public property worth millions of shillings.
"The cumulative effect of the protests has been heightened political tension, disruption of peace and loss of livelihoods, affecting thousands of ordinary Kenyans," Nkaissery said.
-The Star