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{
    "id": 640626,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/640626/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 66,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "(vi) On 29th January, 2016 which was a market day in Tala Township, more than 400 anti-riot police officers were deployed in the township, which greatly inconvenienced and caused anxiety among the residents. (c) Action being taken against the officers of the Kenya Police Service and other persons who have and are still violating the provisions of Article 37 of the Constitution, by repeatedly denying the public their right to assemble, demonstrate, picket and present petitions to public authorities in a peaceful way. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I wish to state that the Government is unaware that police officers have been harassing residents of Machakos County. All public processions whose organizers notified the police in accordance with the law and participants adhered to the law were allowed to proceed. However, the Government is aware that police officers had to intervene in their endeavour to maintain law and order during various incidents in the county. These incidents include:- (1) On 16thDecember, 2014, a caravan comprising of some residents of Machakos County purportedly conducting civic education was intercepted and participants arrested and arraigned before court for taking part in an unlawful procession. The organisers had not notified police of their intention to organise the public procession. Neither had they obtained a permit from the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) for the use of loudspeakers. Nobody was injured. (2) In mid 2014, the residents of Masinga Sub-county held an unlawful assembly and started marching towards the county government offices to present a petition on alleged environmental degradation caused by sand harvesting. Police intercepted and dispersed the group. Nobody was injured. (3) Similarly, on 18thDecember, 2015, some residents of Katani and Mlolongo held a procession to the Governor’s Office without notifying the police. They blocked the Machakos-Kyumbi Road junction thus inconveniencing motorists. Police dispersed the rioters but nobody was injured or arrested. (4) On 11th January, 2016, sand transporters from Matungulu held unlawful demonstrations and blocked the Nairobi-Kangundo Road at Joska using 300 lorries.Operations were thus paralysed along the road for about three hours. Matungulu Sub-county security team managed to convince the demonstrators to present their grievances to the County Government. (5) On 22nd January, 2016, members of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Machakos County, through their Chairman, Mr. Simon Kitheka, notified police of their intention to hold a meeting on 25th January, 2016 at Mulu Mutisya Gardens. He was issued with the notification in accordance with the Public Order Act Cap 56(3), which indicated that the event would be a public meeting and not a procession and that it was scheduled to end at 5 pm. After the meeting, a few people attempted to march to the Governor’s Office but they were repulsed after they blocked the road thus inconveniencing motorists. Nobody was injured. (6) On 27th February, 2016 at Tala Market at around 11 a.m. boda boda operators staged an unlawful demonstration and blocked the Nairobi-Kangundo Road using The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes"
}