Azimio has notified the police of their planned weekly protests on Mondays and Thursdays and asked that sufficient security be provided.
In a hand-delivered letter to Inspector of Police Japhet Koome, Azimio Executive Council chairman Wycliffe Oparanya, however, warned that armed plainclothes officers who will be deployed to the protests will be treated as thugs or goons.
"We put police on notice that we will allow only uniformed police to bear arms; plainclothes in arms will be dealt with as thugs and hired goons and committed to civilian arrests as allowed by the law," Oparanya said.
The notice, he added, shall apply to Monday, March 27 and Thursday, March 30 and the subsequent Monday and Thursday thereafter.
However, the law requires that anyone intending to hold demonstrations or picketing should notify the police at least 72 hours before the material day.
This means for the subsequent demos Azimio will hold, including next week's, they will have to notify the police afresh.
Oparanya said they resorted to hand-deliver the letter to the IG in person at the Regional Police Headquarters since the forms through which such notices are served were not available in any police station.
"Can you please avail us a copy from your office but this serves as an official notice," Oparanya said.
Oparanya was accompanied by Eugene Wamalwa, Jeremiah Kioni and George Wajackoyah.
Raila on Tuesday said that due to public demand, their nationwide mass demonstrations will now be held every Monday and Thursday until their demands are met.
“We reiterate to our supporters and all patriotic Kenyans that this struggle is just starting. We are not looking back and we will not be intimidated. No retreat, no surrender,” he said during a press statement at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation, Nairobi.
Oparanya said during the demos, they will deliver to County Commanders, sub-county Commanders and all other and all other offices across the 47 counties.
He told the IG that letter is not an application for permission to hold the demos but rather since no such permission is required for purposes of holding demos as stipulated under Article 37.
"This is a notification to enable the police to provide adequate security to the demonstrators. By this notice, kindly provide adequate security," Oparanya said.
