Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has defended the government’s decision to restrict access to Nairobi’s Central Business District during Monday’s Saba Saba protests, saying the move was necessary to prevent criminal infiltration and safeguard lives and property.
The CS said the security structures put in place assisted to protect the critical infrastructure with the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD), its environs and other parts of the country, ensuring minimal damage.
However, he acknowledged that enhanced security measures inconvenienced many Kenyans who were unable to access their workstations. “Those Kenyans inconvenienced as a result of this security situation, poleni sana, we wanted you to be safe and property safe.”
Speaking during an inspection tour of the city centre, CS Murkomen commended police officers for what he termed as professional conduct and restraint during the 35th Saba Saba commemoration.
He said the enhanced security measures, although inconvenient to many commuters and city workers, were critical in protecting key infrastructure within the Nairobi Metropolitan area and other parts of the country. “We thank you very much for the work you did today to secure people, their lives and their property. If it was not the work you did, we would be discussing the kind of damage we last week,” noted the CS. “I thought as we come to the end of the day, my team in the ministry and I should come to thank you and your colleagues across the country who have done their best to contain criminals and goons who infiltrated peaceful demonstrations. Because of your work today there was less damage than last time.” he said
According to Murkomen, political problems are not police problems but yet people who do not want to settle their political concerns in a peaceful manner drive police into the political discussions.
Murkomen also praised officers for dealing firmly with what he described as “criminals and goons” who had infiltrated otherwise peaceful demonstrations. “Because of your work today, there was less damage than last time,” he said, referring to the violent incidents witnessed on June 25th.