Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has proposed a bill seeking to restrict demonstrations near key government installations in the city, a move likely to change how protests are conducted in the capital.
The Public Order (Amendment) Bill 2025 aims to introduce changes to the Public Order Act by banning public meetings and processions within a 100-metre radius of Parliament, courtrooms, and protected areas designated under the Protected Areas Act.
“A person who contravenes the provisions of this section commits an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding Ksh100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or both,” the bill states.
The proposed amendments also grant the Interior Cabinet Secretary powers to designate demonstration zones after consulting county governments, outlining where protests will be permitted and where they will be prohibited.
Currently, the law requires organisers to notify police at least three days before a planned demonstration, indicating the date, time, and location, with restrictions limiting gatherings to between 6am and 6pm.
If enacted, the bill will impose stricter limitations on demonstrations, effectively confining protesters to designated areas away from key government infrastructure.
The proposal follows the violent June 25 protests that saw the destruction of property and attacks on government facilities, including the Kikuyu Law Courts and several police stations. The protests, held in memory of lives lost during demonstrations a year earlier, were marred by looting and vandalism, prompting debate on balancing the right to protest with the need to protect public property.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the protests were hijacked by organised groups targeting government installations, with over 400 suspects arrested nationwide in connection with offences including murder, arson, robbery, rape, and incitement to violence.
The bill now heads to Parliament for debate, as the country grapples with how to manage protests while safeguarding public safety and infrastructure.