Police have warned protesters against accessing protected areas ahead of their planned antigovernmental demonstrations in Nairobi today. Youth have been mobilizing online to march to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in protests dubbed ‘OccupyJKIA’ after a previous Parliament buildings edition dubbed ‘OccupyParliament’ and the ‘OcuppyCBD’ march in the Nairobi city Centre. However, acting Police Inspector General Douglas Kanja has cautioned that while it is every Kenyan’s right to protest, they must take note of the legal boundaries that govern access to protected areas. Under Kenyan laws, the JKIA falls under Protected Areas and prevents the entry of unauthorized persons . Such areas include LPG Plant, the Bitumen Plant and Petroleum depots situated at the Embakasi Aviation Depot (JKIA) The police boss has added that the Kenya Civil Aviation Act provides that any person who trespasses on any land forming part of a government aerodrome or an aerodrome commits an offence punishable by law.
This as the Parliamentary Service Commission has put the Initial damage assessment of the extent of destruction by anti government protestors who invaded the precincts of Parliament last month at over Sh100 Million.Parliament precincts have remained as a ‘crime scene’ as investigation continues on the security breach with repairs ongoing following the destruction. PSC says the cost of damages, destruction of building and property will be catered for by Insurance while the institution will bear the cost of vandalism.