Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on Wednesday, July 12, announced that his Ministry would employ CCTV cameras and track media reports to identify and apprehend perpetrators caught vandalizing a section of the Nairobi Expressway during the Azimio protests staged on Wednesday.
In a statement, he directed Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome and the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Amin Mohamed to investigate what transpired and bring the suspects to book.
He sternly warned that the government would not condone lawlessness and going forward, such actions would be dealt with firmly within the confines of the law.
"We have asked the Office of the Director of Criminal Investigations, through the Office of the Inspector General of Police to carry out thorough investigations and ensure the perpetrators of such heinous acts, many of who were captured on CCTV cameras and by the media, are apprehended and punished," Murkomen stated.
He issued a directive that organisers of demonstrations must guarantee that their supporters would not disrupt economic activities, vandalize property or instigate acts of violence that would lead to either loss of lives or property.
"As a country, we cannot normalise such acts of violence, lawlessness and vandalism committed on the pretext of exercising political rights.
"Going forward, organisers of demonstrations must guarantee that their supporters will not repeat such acts of lawlessness failure to which they will be held personally responsible for losses incurred through theft, vandalism, and the destruction of public infrastructure and property," he noted.
The damages incurred on the expressway were as a result of charged anti-government protests called for by the Azimio coalition.
As a result, Moja Expressway, the operator of the elevated road announced the temporary closure of Mlolongo, Syokimau and Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) toll stations indefinitely.
Moja Expressway's Public Relations Manager Jeanne May Ong'iyo had earlier revealed to Kenyans.co.ke that toll attendants working in different spots along the stretch were safely evacuated before the chaos ensued.
She added that the police officers managed to disperse the crowd after engaging the protestors in running battles.
"The situation is under control. The police officers are on the road and have restored normalcy."
"We cannot really say how long it will take for us to resume operations but as soon as we have resumed, we will make a statement," she stated.
