Murkomen Claims June 25 Protests Were an “Attempted Coup”

Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, Kipchumba Murkomen, addresses a press conference in Nairobi, where he described the June 25 protests as acts of terrorism and an attempted coup

Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration Kipchumba Murkomen described the June 25 protests as an attempted coup against the government. Addressing the press in Nairobi, Murkomen said the unrest witnessed across various parts of the country was not a spontaneous expression of public dissent, but a carefully orchestrated and well funded plan to destabilize the state.

According to the CS, the individuals behind the violence mobilized groups from Central Kenya and other regions to infiltrate the protests, loot property, attack police stations, and even steal police uniforms and firearms. He claimed these actions were intended to undermine law enforcement and create a state of lawlessness.

Murkomen revealed that five police stations were set ablaze, over 300 police officers were injured, and a total of 88 police vehicles, 27 county government vehicles, and 65 private vehicles were destroyed during the mayhem. He added that homes and businesses, including properties owned by politicians, were looted and burned, with losses running into billions of shillings.

He dismissed any allegations of police brutality, insisting that security forces acted with restraint despite being heavily provoked. “No police officer committed any excesses,” Murkomen said, defending the response by law enforcement during the nationwide unrest.

The Interior CS ruled out any possibility of government compensation for the damages, stating that public funds would not be used to cover losses resulting from what he termed as criminal activity. He instead announced plans to introduce legislation that will hold protest organizers and financiers personally liable for the destruction caused.

Murkomen also urged the Judiciary to play its part in maintaining national security by denying bail to those arrested in connection with the violence. He cautioned against leniency, arguing that some of the suspects pose a serious threat to public safety.

He concluded by assuring the public that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is actively pursuing the masterminds of the violence, and emphasized that the government will not tolerate any attempts to overthrow constitutional order under the guise of peaceful protest.