Government
spokesman Alfred Mutua yesterday defended the police against accusations of excessive
violence meted on demonstrators who defied the ban and attempted to gather at Uhuru Park.
The fast-talking spokesman said the
Government was convinced the chaos and looting of property would have been greater had the
meetings been allowed to go on.
"Based on the information we had
gathered that hired people were preparing to loot and cause mayhem, the extent of
destruction would not have been allowed to stand," Mutua said.
He praised police for restrained action
amid intense provocation by the demonstrators arguing there were no major casualties in
the all-day chaos.
Defending the ban imposed on the rally, Dr
Mutua said the day’s events had proved that the organizers of the rally merely wanted
to use it as an excuse to cause chaos and embarrass the Government.
He downplayed the bad publicity the country
is likely to suffer from yesterday’s events arguing that it would eventually be
mitigated by "the good intentions and good things lying ahead."
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