Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has slammed the Ksh50,000 cash bail granted to suspects accused of invading a hospital in Kitengela during the Saba Saba Day protests.
Speaking during a State of Security address in Nairobi on Tuesday, July 15, Murkomen confirmed that hundreds of suspects have been arrested countrywide in connection with the mayhem witnessed during protests dating back to July 7.
Among those arraigned were two individuals involved in the Kitengela Hospital invasion. According to Murkomen, the suspects were released on a bail of Ksh50,000, a punishment he described as too lenient.
"In another reprehensible incident, marauding gangs stormed the operating theatre at the Kitengela Sub-County Hospital, interrupting an emergency caesarean section and terrorising patients and medical staff," Murkomen said.
He added: "Two suspects have been arrested and arraigned. The two were granted cash bail of Ksh 50,000. These lenient bail terms are unacceptable. It is in hospitals that we seek refuge at our most vulnerable moments, and to infringe on this privacy is an offence most foul.
The CS further confirmed that 1,500 people had been arrested countrywide and were facing various charges, ranging from terrorism and malicious property damage to murder.
Kitengela was one of the hardest hit by skirmishes on Monday, July 7, as protesters engaged police in running battles, despite the Saba Saba protests initially starting out peacefully.
Protesters not only blocked roads and lit bonfires in Kitengela but also descended into vandalism, reportedly breaking into several businesses.
The invasion of the Kitengela hospital, which was caught on camera, arguably caused the most outrage, with bodies like the Kenya Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society (KOGS) calling on better protection of essential service providers during such incidents.
Besides hospitals, Murkomen also confirmed that 16 police stations were razed during the three waves of protest since June 17.
Notably, of the 1500 suspects who were nabbed by the police, those who were released on Ksh50,000 bail were accused of lesser charges like malicious damage to property and targeted attacks on infrastructure.
"Of these (suspects), 50 individuals are currently under investigation by the Serious Crimes Investigations Unit while 71 cases are being handled by the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit for offences related to acts of terrorism," Murkomen added.
While expressing his desire to have peaceful protests going forward, Murkomen revealed police would also be held accountable in the event there was use of excessive force to quell demonstrators.
To this effect, Murkomen is set to issue a policy directive to the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja on Friday, July 18, on the use of force and firearms by law enforcement officers.
