NAIROBI, Kenya -The Kenyan court has suspended a police-imposed ban on protests in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD). The High Court decision affirms the citizens’ constitutional right to peaceful demonstrations.

The decision, handed down on Thursday, directly challenges the police’s indefinite prohibition on protests in the capital, which had been justified by concerns over the absence of leadership to ensure order.

Prior to the court’s intervention, acting police inspector general Douglas Kanja had cited the lack of demonstrative leadership on Generation Z-led protests as a primary reason for the ban, suggesting it impeded the enforcement of safety protocols. This ban was lifted ahead of a planned protest aimed at marching to the president’s office, demanding his resignation over issues of poor governance.

The backdrop to this decision includes a month of sustained protests initiated in opposition to a controversial finance bill proposing higher taxes amidst a dire cost-of-living crisis and escalating public debt. The protests, which began on June 18, have been marred by violence, resulting in at least 50 fatalities, according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.

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President William Ruto who initially remained firm on the finance bill announced he would not sign the bill passed by parliament on June 25.

This decision followed a dramatic protest where demonstrators stormed and set part of the parliamentary building ablaze, causing lawmakers to flee. In response to the escalating unrest and in a bid to placate the demonstrators, Ruto dismissed almost his entire Cabinet and the attorney general, bowing to demands to address incompetence, corruption, and ostentatious displays by government officials.

The U.S. Embassy in Nairobi has weighed in on the situation, urging the police to respect the demonstrators’ rights and encouraging the government to pursue steps towards national unity and reconciliation.

Meanwhile, the central business district of Nairobi remains tense, with businesses shuttering in anticipation of the protests and police maintaining a heavy presence. Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura has reported substantial economic losses due to the ongoing protests, estimating damages at 6 billion Kenyan shillings (approximately $45 million).

The unrest has not only impacted the economy but also highlighted issues of police brutality. Former inspector general of police, Japhet Koome, resigned on July 12 following demands for accountability in the shooting of protesters.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has been active, forwarding four out of ten cases of police brutality to the director of public prosecutions with recommendations. The IPOA has collected witness statements and summoned various police officers to provide testimonies regarding the incidents of police brutality.