The former Murang’a governor Mwangi Wa Iria will hold his anti-government meeting in Murang’a on Thursday (tomorrow) despite the police decision to cancel it.
The former governor delivered a notice of the meeting to Murang’a police station on Tuesday, saying it will provide them with a platform to express their views on the challenges they have been facing, such as the high cost of living and high taxes.
The meeting, according to Wa Iria, would be attended by top Azimio la Umoja leadership led by Raila Odinga and would culminate in a meeting in Murang’a town’s streets.
However, County Police Commander David Mathiu stated on Wednesday that the notice should have been submitted four days earlier and that his officers will not be available to provide security.
As a result, Mathiu stated that the meeting will not be allowed to take place as the police require a longer time to prepare.
Wa Iria, on the other hand, has stated that the stakeholders’ meeting is still taking place and that they are not seeking permission from the police to hold it.
He claimed that the right to assemble is guaranteed by the Kenyan constitution.
“It is like people going to a church service and the police tell them that they need their permission. We are politicians and we don’t require anybody’s permission to meet.”
“However, for the sake of courtesy, we informed them and they said they have rejected it. I want to tell the police that we were not asking for their permission. I have already discussed with ‘Baba’ and the meeting is on.”
Wa Iria also stated that all Azimio leaders have confirmed their attendance and urged residents to do the same.
He stated that if the police interfere with the meeting, “we will face them head-on.”
“I want to warn them that if they interfere with tomorrow’s meeting, they should expect the worst to happen. We can’t have police officers causing chaos. Now they’re saying that they are assigned elsewhere. Who told them we wanted police officers?”.
According to Wa Iria, the meeting involves citizens and they don’t have to be there.
