Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has issued a stern warning that individuals intending to exploit the June 25 demonstrations for violence, looting, and destruction will face the full force of the law.
Accusing unnamed political actors of sponsoring unrest, Murkomen stated, “Some politicians who failed to find fault with this year’s Finance Bill just want to cause chaos next week. They are misusing other people’s children, yet neither they nor their children turn up in those demonstrations.”
While affirming that Article 37 of the Constitution guarantees the right to picketing and peaceful demonstration, Murkomen cautioned against its abuse.
“With due respect to Article 37, any person who will be in the streets with a machete, a stone, or matchsticks to burn a police station or a court, or to loot businesses, will meet the full force of the law.” He declared,
He clarified that while the government has compensated victims of previous demonstrations, this should not be misconstrued as tolerance for criminal behaviour.
“We are a responsible government… but that support does not mean goons and criminals can come and terrorise Kenyans,” he stated.
Murkomen stressed that the police will protect lawful protesters while taking firm action against criminal elements who infiltrate demonstrations to commit offences such as arson, vandalism, and theft.
He reinforced the government’s commitment to public safety, stating, “We must make our country safe, and that is what we will do because we love this country.”
He further urged leaders to avoid inflaming tensions as the country approaches politically sensitive periods, warning against what he described as a rising culture of “goonism” linked to political mobilisation.
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