Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has described the violent unrest that rocked parts of Nairobi and other towns on Wednesday as a “premeditated attempt to overthrow the government.”
Murkomen praised security officers for thwarting what he called an attempted coup.
Speaking on Thursday evening Murkomen said the demonstrations were not peaceful protests, but a well-organized plot to seize key national institutions, including Parliament and State House, with the intention of staging a regime change.
“Those who planned this chaos had a very clear and premeditated plan. It was not about expressing grievances — it was about targeting the symbols of our democracy,” Murkomen said, referencing online posts that allegedly outlined plans to occupy government buildings.He accused unnamed individuals of inciting violence under the guise of public dissent, claiming that the protest organisers sought to take over Parliament and State House to simulate a change in power.
“There was no protest. It was chaos. It was anarchy,” the CS declared, blaming both local and international voices for emboldening demonstrators by calling on police to allow the gatherings.Murkomen commended police officers for acting with “remarkable restraint under extreme provocation” and vowed to defend them against any accusations of wrongdoing. He rejected claims of police brutality, stating: “No officer committed any excesses yesterday. They foiled a coup.”
He also expressed frustration at the lack of public support for law enforcement, particularly from religious leaders and members of the diplomatic community.
“No bishop — Catholic, Anglican or otherwise — will come out to defend the police,” he said. “No diplomat will speak in support of our officers. They would rather see chaos than a secure and prosperous Kenya.”Murkomen further condemned attacks on police stations and reports of stolen weapons and uniforms, warning those involved that they will be tracked down.
“We’ve seen boys on TikTok wearing police uniforms and calling themselves sergeants. Make no mistake — we will come for you. And we will come hard,” he warned.In response to the events, Murkomen called for urgent legal reforms to regulate public demonstrations in line with Article 37 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to assemble peacefully. He proposed requiring protest organisers to disclose key details — such as the route, date, time, and objective — to enable authorities to provide proper security and prevent disruption.
“We must deny criminals the chance to exploit legitimate grievances,” Murkomen said, adding that the government welcomes dialogue with all stakeholders, including youth, religious leaders, businesspeople, and civil society.“To those who seek chaos, our resolve to protect our motherland is unbreakable,” he concluded. “To peaceful citizens, the government stands with you.”
