NAIROBI, Kenya — Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has described the violence witnessed on June 25 and July 7 as an orchestrated campaign of terror, not legitimate protest, blaming “politically sponsored gangs” for a wave of deadly unrest that left 42 people dead and nearly 600 injured.
In a detailed national update on Tuesday, Murkomen said the attacks were part of a wider plot to destabilize the country and undermine law enforcement, with evidence of looting, arson, sexual violence, and the destruction of key government facilities and infrastructure.
“What happened was not protest—it was premeditated criminality. Deliberate, dangerous, and deeply disturbing,” Murkomen said during the press conference at Harambee House.
According to the government, 496 of the injured were police officers.
1,500 Arrested, 71 Under Anti-Terror Probe
Murkomen said over 1,500 people have been arrested in connection with the unrest and are facing charges ranging from terrorism, murder, robbery with violence, to arson and destruction of public property.
Of these, 71 cases are being handled by the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit, while 50 individuals are under investigation by the Serious Crimes Unit.
Police also recovered stolen firearms and arrested suspects accused of torching police stations, raiding supermarkets, and attacking hospitals—incidents the CS described as part of a calculated campaign to paralyze state institutions.
He confirmed that 16 police stations and posts were either burnt or vandalized over the two days.
“When a police station is attacked, it leaves citizens exposed and at the mercy of dangerous criminals,” he said.
Attacks on Government Facilities, Businesses, and Hospitals
Murkomen outlined a grim account of coordinated destruction across counties:
- Dagoretti and Kikuyu: Police stations, law courts, government offices, and police housing units were torched. Five guns were stolen and vehicles—including a school bus and ambulances—were destroyed.
- Naivasha: Supermarkets looted and a firearm stolen was used to commit a robbery the following day.
- Olkalou: A police station was razed, three detainees killed, and 26 vehicles torched.
- Kitengela: Protesters stormed a hospital during an emergency caesarean section, terrorizing patients and staff. Two suspects were arrested and released on Ksh50,000 bail—a move the CS criticized as “unacceptable.”
- Meru and Eldoret: Supermarkets and bars were looted or bombed. Suspects arrested.
- Kirinyaga: County offices and supermarkets were vandalized or set ablaze.
- Kasarani, Nyeri, Githurai, Ruiru: Several retail outlets were attacked and millions worth of goods stolen.
In total, Murkomen said dozens of suspects had already been charged, and investigations into financiers and political mobilizers were underway.
Murkomen: One Police Officer Already Charged With Murder
Acknowledging growing public concern over the use of force by police, Murkomen confirmed that one police officer has already been charged with murder, and that other cases are being reviewed.
He promised accountability for any officer found to have acted unlawfully.
“Any police officer who used excessive force will face the law,” Murkomen stated.
He added that on Friday, he will issue a new directive to the Inspector General on the use of force and firearms, as required under Article 245(4) of the Constitution.
Government Warns “Sponsors of Anarchy”
Without naming names, Murkomen said investigations had uncovered the involvement of political sponsors and financiers behind the protests and promised they would be held accountable.
“To the financiers, organisers, and executors—take note. This reign of terror against the people of Kenya must come to an end, whatever the cost,” he warned.
While reaffirming the constitutional right to assemble, picket and present petitions, Murkomen insisted that the events of June 25 and July 7 went beyond legal protest.
“Invasion of hospitals, rape, looting, vandalism, and the torching of police stations are vile crimes and must be treated as such,” he said.
As the dust settles from the deadly protests, pressure is now mounting on the government to prove its claims of political orchestration and to ensure transparency in ongoing prosecutions.
Meanwhile, human rights groups have continued to push back against the state’s narrative, pointing to the high number of protest-related deaths—especially in Nairobi, Kiambu, and Kajiado—and demanding independent investigations into police conduct.
