Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has warned that the government will take firm action against anyone who uses the planned June 25 Gen Z protests to engage in crime, violence, or destruction of property.
Speaking in Nandi during a funeral ceremony, Murkomen said the Constitution guarantees the right to peaceful demonstrations but warned that the freedom should not be used as a cover for lawlessness.
“Anyone who takes to the streets with a machete, stones, or any weapon to destroy property or loot businesses will face the full force of the law,” he said.
The CS revealed that security agencies have launched a nationwide crackdown on criminal gangs, accusing some politicians of recruiting and using them to cause unrest.
“The problem is not the youth. The problem is political leaders who deliberately hire and use these gangs because they have no alternative agenda,” Murkomen said.
His remarks come ahead of the second anniversary of the Gen Z protests scheduled for June 25, with several groups planning demonstrations over governance and economic concerns.
While affirming Kenyans’ constitutional right to protest peacefully, Murkomen urged leaders and citizens to maintain peace, saying security agencies will continue working to protect lives and property.
“We must make our country safe, and that is exactly what we will do because we love this country,” he said.
