Meru Senator Kathuri Murungi on Wednesday moved to push the government to compensate Kenyan business owners who incurred huge losses after their enterprise establishments were looted during the recent anti-government protests.
Speaking while submitting amendments to the State of the Nation Motion in the Senate, Kathuri proposed that the state initiate a comprehensive audit and compensate the owners of all affected businesses.
“Engage the government to compensate all persons whose property both movable or immovable were damaged or lost due to the demonstrations,” read the proposed amendment.
The Senator also wants the government to fast-track the insurance compensation for police officers who suffered injuries during the protests.
Another key recommendation from the Senator was to have the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) undertake investigations to identify the organisations allegedly sponsoring the protests.
The Senator, taking cue from President William Ruto accused foreign organisations of orchestrating and coordinating violence in the country which he stated calls for prompt investigations.
Kathuri championed for the Standing Committee on National Security Defence and Foreign Affairs to undertake security sector reforms, that will guide the National Police Service on matters security and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for handling demonstrations.
The lawmaker argued that the government should expedite the proposed reforms.
However, despite the investigations being carried out on organisations, civil society organisations (CSOs) have rejected claims of being funded to stage protests in Kenya.
The Law Society of Kenya, Amnesty International Kenya, and Human Rights Watch were among the organisations that refuted the claims. The organisations asserted that the accusations are unfounded and undermine their charity work.
The groups took offence to a letter penned by Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Singoei that claimed that some of them received funds from the Ford Foundation and other similar foreign entities.
