Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen says yesterday’s demonstrations that rocked parts of the country was politically motivated bycriminal gangs operating under the guise of peaceful demonstrators.
Speaking on Thursday, Murkomen painted a grim picture of the aftermath, revealing that more than ten Kenyans were killed, with investigations still underway to determine the exact number and circumstances of the deaths.
CS noted that key government installations and offices were targeted. Atleast nine police stations were attacked, five of which were torched including Dagoretti, Molo and Ol Kalau. 88 Police vehicles were destroyed.
A total of 27 National and County Government vehicles were destroyed and 65 civilian vehicles parked in various police stations including a school bus were also burnt.
According to CS Murkomen, criminals were aiming to harm officers on duty, take their guns in the armouries and police uniforms. Five firearms were stolen in Dagoretti Police Post, Kiambu County, while four were burnt at Gachui Police Post, by the very criminals who hid behind the pretence of a peaceful protest.
Government offices including courts, National Government and County Offices were looted and burnt. Businesses worth billions of shillings, were massively looted. The criminals were targeting kiosks, supermarkets, electronic shops, hotels and restaurants, among others.
Just like Government infrastructure, business and residential premises were burnt, including one owned by the Catholic Church in Embu County. “This was not just violence. It was an orchestrated campaign of terror, an assault on our people, our Constitution, our institutions, our values, and the very soul of this Republic. What was billed as a peaceful protest was, in truth, a calculated disguise, a coordinated descent into chaos masked as civic expression.” says Murkomen
He accused the organizers of deliberately targeting properties belonging to pro-government leaders, including National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, Molo MP Kimani Kuria, Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi, and Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri.
