GOVERNMENT WARNS PROTESTS: PRESIDENT WARNS AGAINST DISRUPTION OF PEACE IN WED PROTESTS

MURKOMEN: WE’RE READY TO MEET THE FAMILIES OF PROTEST VICTIMS

The government has warned against disruption of peace in june 25th protests. Led by president william ruto, the government says its ready to meet the families of those who lost their loved ones in last year’s protests. With affirmations that the kenya police is the most professional police service in the continent, interior cs kipchumba murkomen has assure that criminals invading the protests shall be dealt with ruthlessly.

“As a ministry, we are ready to meet the families of those who, unfortunately, lost their children as a result of these political acts. It doesn’t matter what happened; from a human perspective, we are ready to meet their families, have a conversation with them and see what else we can do to support them,” Murkomen said.

As kenyan youths prepare to join the families of those who lost their lives during the june 25th anti-finance bill protest, president william ruto and interior cabinet secretary kipchumba murkomen has warned against disruptions of the planned peaceful protests. Government has confirmed that it’s ready to meet the families of those who unfortunately lost their children as a result of political acts.

“Nobody is above the law; you cannot intimidate the police. You cannot use force or insult against the police or threaten, because you are threatening our nation. These are our frontline defenders,” Ruto said.

Citing the kenya police are the most professional police service in the continent, chief of defence forces william ruto and inspector general of police douglas kanja urged kenyans to support, respect police officers.

“This is one of the most professional police services on the continent. Kenya is the country that has the most difficult political environment to operate as a police officer,” he noted.

“On one hand, the police are extremely constricted on what they can do in ensuring there is law and order; on the other hand, you have political leadership that is very belligerent in supporting the work of the police service.”

Murkomen noted that in countries like UK they do not toleatate whatever is happening in Kenya and for their case is worse because the Secret Service pick themfrom their homes.

“In the UK, if any person tweeted or made a post saying they would be visiting Buckingham Palace, nobody would wait for them to come to the streets. They will be picked from their own houses, and they will be charged. I have lived and studied in the US, and if an American citizen were to write on social media, ‘let us go and invade the White House,’ the Secret Service would pick them from their homes,” Murkomen said.

Murkomen on his part opined that threatening to invade state house is a sign of indiscipline. He noted that it is only in kenya where a citizen will post on social media that they will invade parliament, the judiciary or state house and still walk free.

“It is only in Kenya where someone can publicly declare plans to invade Parliament, the Judiciary or State House, and still walk free. And when they are taken to court, they are released and allowed to go home.”

Murkomen distanced the government from the allegations that it intends to sponsor goons to disrupt peaceful protests. The blame was shifted to alleged political actors who once stood for law and order but are now planning chaos, buying machetes, distributing them to youth to cause violence. He directed that the police must be ruthless in dealing with such criminals.

“We have received information indicating that some groups are attempting to arm young people with crude weapons to cause disturbances in the city. The police must act decisively to uphold law and order,” he said.