Acting Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja now says he did not ban demonstrations. In a statement on Friday, Kanja said the directive he issued on Wednesday was to merely alert the public of potential threats associated with the planned demonstrations on Thursday.

He clarified that it’s required under law for planners of demonstrations to inform the police in advance about any planned demonstrations and the area they intend to hold the march.

This, he said, is geared towards ensuring everyone’s safety and security in the face of evolving dynamics of public demonstrations that require police to act on intelligence reports and issue prompt guidelines.