You will be my guests if you break law, Kindiki warns Azimio team

Interior CS Kithure Kindiki. [Jenipher Wachie, Standard]

The government has said it has no right to interfere with the Azimio la Umoja rallies, but warns leaders against inciting public disorder.

While giving a scorecard of his 100 days in office, Interior CS Kithure Kindiki said every Kenyan is free to air their views in an orderly manner without government interference. However, the CS was quick to warn that if the rallies threaten the peace, the police will intervene.

"As for their politics, they can pursue them elsewhere. Some of them are demonstrating all over the place; I don't care about those who are demonstrating on the condition that they maintain law and order," Prof Kindiki said.

The CS stated his position a day after Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga dared the government to arrest him during a charged rally at Kibra's Kamukunji grounds.

"Let him go ahead and ask former President Daniel Arap Moi. We cannot be intimidated. I dare Ruto to arrest me but we will not relent in the push," Raila said.

But Kindiki said the politicians have the freedom to air out their grievances in a peaceful way.

"They can do rallies, they can picket, demonstrate so long as they do not disrupt businesses or force those people who are not aligned to them to listen to them by force, they don't incite public disorder. They can talk about anything," he said.

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The CS warned that the security agencies will not remain silent while politicians incite violence and property destruction under the guise of protests.

"The day they try to break the law, to breach the peace, to incite public disorder, that is the day the full weight of the Ministry of Interior will come down on them," he said.

"The moment they threaten that aspiration, they are my client in the other sent," Prof Kindiki warned.

He welcomed any form of consultation but added that such talks should only focus on improving the country's security.

"There is a political space in which others from both the government and the opposition can participate. We are very interested, and I have told all politicians that when they help me make Kenya a secure country, they are my friends and allies," said the CS.

Despite frequent cases of cattle rustling and inter-border conflicts, the CS assured Kenyans of a safe environment.

He said the state has implemented a robust strategy to combat small arms proliferation through strategic and evidence-based disarmament.

"The government is investing in community-based intelligence, drone surveillance technology, and modern personal protection equipment," he said as he outlined his ministry's accomplishments in the first 100 days since Kenya Kwanza took power.

"I have established a high-level counter-banditry land and air team to oversee daily progress on this war," he added.

Further, the government is strengthening the capacity of the Moyale One Stop Border point to facilitate trade between Kenya and Ethiopia.