High Courts stops police from arresting Magaya

High Court Judge John Mativo. (Photo: File/Standard)

High Court judge John Mativo Tuesday suspended ban on anti-IEBC demos by National Super Alliance (NASA) supporters in Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu central business districts until case filed by Norman Magaya is determined.

This was after acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i said the government would charge NASA CEO Norman Magaya for calling the demos that turned bad on Wednesday, October 11.

“We will charge him after we have quantified the extent of the damage,” Dr Matiang’i said.

The Cabinet Secretary called on traders who lost their property during the demos to record statements with police.

CS Matiang’i said the law required one to notify police of a demo, the route, its purpose, and await a response allowing it or turning it down, before proceeding for them.

Magaya was in hiding since Thursday night after learning police were looking for him. Police have visited various places in the city where the NASA CEO frequents, looking for him in vain.

On Monday, Magaya moved to court seeking to bar police from arresting him and stopping ban on protests by NASA supporters against the electoral agency now in their fourth week.

He sued acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i, Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet and Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko.

Judge Mativo also blocked police from arresting and prosecuting Magaya over anti-IEBC demonstrations.