Nominated MP Sabina Chege wants leaders who call for street demonstrations to pay for the damages if public and private properties are destroyed during the protests.
Speaking with TV 47's Willis Raburu, Sabina said the leaders who call for the demonstrations that turn violent should be charged with various offences aside from paying for the damages.
“I should be charged. I should be the person to pay for the damages. Surely, you cannot cause havoc so that you are heard,” she said.
The lawmaker said Kenyans should borrow from countries that witness peaceful demonstrations.
“I think you have seen how it happens in other countries say South Africa. They actually walk together, hold hands, they do not destroy anything. They have an area where they will picket and give their views. They do not steal. That is what should happen in Kenya,” she said.
Sabina said Kenyan leaders when calling for demonstrations, should tell their supporters to be peaceful and orderly.
“I should tell them that we will meet at Uhuru Park or any other place. We will march to the Judiciary or wherever holding hands, and I will be walking with them," she added.
"I will not be in a car where there is air conditioning and other demonstrators are suffocating when tear gas is thrown at the group. The other people should not be the ones getting shot while I am in an armoured car. It is not fair."
Sabina added that leaders in the demonstration should be able to go with their children because they are sure the protests will be peaceful.
“But if in case anything is destroyed at that point, then the person who called for the demonstration should be liable,” she insisted.
A Bill before the House is proposing to have conveners of protests held liable for any damage to property or loss of lives.
The Bill by Mbeere North MP Geoffrey Ruku further proposes that conveners be held liable for the damage caused during riots and those participating in illegal protests be imprisoned for a year.
In July, Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) said that the private sector in Kenya has been losing at least 3 billion shillings daily due to maandamano organized by Azimion leader Raila Odinga.
KEPSA said companies across the country, most within Nairobi and Kisumu, have been shutting down their businesses on the days of maandamano, making no sales with the effects trickling down the value chain to the “smallest retailer.”