Interior Ministry Hatches Strategy to Punish Protesters

Interior PS Raymond Omollo speaks to the press during the inspection of Moi Stadium in Embu County on February 21, 2023.
Interior PS Raymond Omollo speaks to the press during the inspection of Moi Stadium in Embu County on February 21, 2023.
Ministry of Interior

Principal Secretary for Internal Security, Raymond Omollo, on Thursday, March 31, revealed the government’s strategy to punish violent protesters.

Omollo mentioned that the government will take legal action against individual protesters found committing illegal acts.

He was speaking in Naivasha at the end of a retreat comprised of officials of the Ministry of Interior and the Parliamentary Committee on National Security and Internal Affairs, where the committee wanted to appraise the operations at the ministry.

“The arrests that are being made are of people who are considered suspects with regards to the various transgressions that have happened across the country, not just in Nairobi, but also in Kisumu, Migori, and some parts of Homa Bay,

A photo of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga addressing a rally on Kibera on March 27, 2022.
A photo of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga addressing a rally in Kibra on March 27, 2022.
Photo
Raila Odinga

“We’ve had challenges around those demonstrations in the sense that the lives of Kenyans have been put at risk, starting with the journalists. Property has been lost; the lives of Kenyans and our security officers have also been put at risk,” PS Omollo divulged.

He spoke against the Azimio protests led by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Some counties affected by violent protests include Nairobi, Kisumu, and Homa Bay.

The revelation came two days before Raila planned to hold “the mother of all demonstrations” in Nairobi on Monday, April 3.

His decision was pegged on the Member of Parliament for Kikuyu, Kimani Ichung'wa, urging the police to arrest Raila for leading the protests.

He also called for the arrest of former President Uhuru Kenyatta for sponsoring the protests.

On the same day, Defence Cabinet Secretary (CS), Aden Duale, revealed that former President Uhuru Kenyatta was financing the recent demonstrations.

"Outside this, there is the extension of President Uhuru Kenyatta's hand. I am not speaking as an Agriculture CS. The family was involved in yesterday's demonstrations," Duale stated during an interview with Spice FM. 

On March 26, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki revealed that the government was mulling changes to the law that affect how demonstrations are conducted.

The proposed changes included amending the Public Order Act.

A photo collage of Azimio Leader Raila Odinga and Interior CS Kithure Kindiki
A photo collage of Azimio Leader Raila Odinga and Interior CS Kithure Kindiki
File
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