Top security organ warns Raila against holding rallies
Updated 56 mins ago By Cyrus Ombati Nairobi, Kenya: Kenya’s top security organ has told Prime Minister <http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?searchtext=Raila&searchbutton=SEARCH> Raila Odinga and Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka to suspend planned countrywide rallies as they could trigger violence. The National Security Advisory Committee also upheld a ban on political meetings.  The National Security and Advisory Committee (NSAC) said the public meetings were unwarranted and could trigger animosity and violence.  The committee, which is chaired by head of civil service Francis Kimemia met on Wednesday evening and declared they will not allow the meetings to continue as planned.  The meeting came after the leaders of the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy announced they planned to hold a series of rallies on Saturday and Sunday.  Members of NSAC include Kimemia, Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo, Permanent Secretaries Mutea Iringo, Thuita Mwangi, Nancy Kirui, National Intelligence Service Director General Michael Gichangi, Attorney General Githu Muigai and Kimaiyo’s deputies Grace Kaindi and Samuel Arachi. <http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?searchtext=Raila&searchbutton=SEARCH> Raila, Musyoka and Bungoma Senator-elect Moses Wetangula had planned to hold a rally in Kakamega on Saturday.  Kimemia, later explained Wednesday's security meeting was convened to deliberate <http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?searchtext=Raila&searchbutton=SEARCH> Raila's recent claims that he had won the presidential elections.  He said the meeting upheld a directive by Kimaiyo that banned mass actions, demonstrations and political gatherings.  "Such meetings could obsolete gains made from the peaceful conduct of elections which demonstrated to the world that Kenya’s democracy had matured and investors were already releasing investment capital," said Kimemia. Kimemia said all parties have been banned from holding political meetings.  Kimaiyo said they are trying to reach the CORD leaders directly and diplomatically to implore on them to drop the planned rallies for a while. The committee also directed police to disperse crowds that usually gather outside the Supreme Court in the city saying there are illegal. But the move can be legally challenged because the Constitution and in particular the Bill of Rights allows freedom of speech and assembly. The groups usually meet outside Nakumatt Supermarket and KICC to discuss general political and current issues. They have been meeting there for more than a year now. "We took issue with idle, noisy mobs congregating outside Supreme Court of Kenya and KICC buildings as they have become a public nuisance and disrupting Court processes and business operations around the area. "This will be disallowed since strategic buildings were under security surveillance and such mobs are a security threat and should be advised to disperse with immediate effect," Kimemia said. NSAC urged <http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?searchtext=Raila&searchbutton=SEARCH> Raila to let the Judges of the Supreme Court to rule on the presidential petition he had files protesting the results of the March 4 election. "Court process should be left to those authorised into courts. Any attempts to disrupt, discredit or intimidate the Courts, IEBC or other institutions of the State will not be tolerated," said the statement by NSAC. The PM has filed a petition at the Supreme Court challenging Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission’s declaration that Uhuru Kenyatta won the presidential election. On March 9, IEBC declared Kenyatta winner of the presidential election with 6.1 million votes against <http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?searchtext=Raila&searchbutton=SEARCH> Raila’s 5.3 million. Thé Mulindwas Communication Group "With Yoweri Museveni and Dr. Kiiza Besigye Uganda is in anarchy" Kuungana Mulindwa Mawasiliano Kikundi "Pamoja na Yoweri Museveni na Dk. Kiiza Besigye Uganda ni katika machafuko"
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