Nairobi Business Community military-style outfit causes stir

Nairobi Business Community Chairman Wilfred Kamau (left) is accompanied by some members of the group during a press briefing in Nairobi on October 23,2017. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL | NATION MEDIEA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The display of military uniform by the group comes days after top Jubilee women leadership wore Kenyan military fatigue that included a red beret during campaigns for President Uhuru Kenyatta.
  • The National Police Act criminalises the use of disciplined forces’ uniforms by civilians.

Some members of the so called Nairobi Business Community on Monday turned up for a press briefing clad in military uniform.

The four individuals showed up at Uhuru Park wearing American army combat uniform including patrol caps, jackets, trousers, boots and dark shades.

The group had gathered to petition the Inspector General of Police and the IEBC on the safety of elections.

PEACE

They appealed to everyone to vote on October 26, but said they have no objection to opposition demonstrations provided they are peaceful.

“We are protecting our businesses and the futures of our businesses. If the opposition people want to demonstrate, we don’t have any problem, we will only have issue if they destroy our businesses,” Wilfred Kamau, the leader of the group said.

The display of military uniform by the group comes days after top Jubilee women leadership wore Kenyan military fatigue that included a red beret during campaigns for President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The National Police Act criminalises the use of disciplined forces’ uniforms by civilians.

LAW

Section 101 of National Police Service Act states: “Impersonation of police officer or wearing police uniform, etc. (1) A person other than a police officer who, without the written authority of the Inspector-General— (a) puts on or assumes, either in whole or in part, the uniform, name, designation or description of a police officer, or a uniform, name or designation, resembling or intended to resemble the uniform, name or designation of a police officer.”

Offenders are “liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding one million shillings or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding ten years, or to both.”

Section 279 of the KDF Act provides for “imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year” for offenders.