NAIROBI, Kenya- Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has commended the judiciary for what he termed as “cooperation” in handling the surge in protest-related arrests, saying their support has enabled security agencies to carry out investigations efficiently.
Speaking during a press briefing on ongoing nationwide security operations, Murkomen disclosed that more than 1,500 individuals had been arraigned in various courts across the country in connection with recent unrest.
The arrests stem from the July 7 nationwide protests, which turned deadly in several parts of the country.
More than 30 people lost their lives during the demonstrations, including a 12-year-old child who was struck by a stray bullet while inside her home.
“I must thank our courts because they have been cooperative in most of the instances, to make sure that we get relevant time for investigations,” said Murkomen.
“You realise that this administration means business. I look forward to successful prosecutions and convictions so that the people of Kenya can begin to separate the wheat from the chaff.”
The government has since intensified its crackdown, leading to the arraignment of over over a thousand individuals linked to the unrest.
He emphasized that the government was not opposed to lawful demonstrations, but warned that violence and criminal acts disguised as protests would not be tolerated.
“Criminals will now leave citizens who want to exercise Article 37 of the Constitution to come to the streets, and police will escort them as they conduct their protest peacefully,” he added.
Article 37 of the Kenyan Constitution grants every person the right to assemble, demonstrate, picket, and present petitions to public authorities—peacefully and unarmed.
The clause has been at the heart of recent Gen Z-led protests, with youth demanding accountability, economic reforms, and an end to police brutality.
Murkomen’s statement comes amid ongoing legal proceedings against hundreds arrested in connection with the unrest, particularly during the early July demonstrations.
Among those arraigned are individuals facing charges ranging from terrorism, malicious damage to property, theft, unlawful assembly, and assaulting police officers.
The Judiciary has, in several cases, denied blanket applications to detain suspects beyond the constitutional 24-hour period, urging investigators to present sufficient grounds.
However, in some high-profile cases, courts have granted police extended time to probe further, especially where digital evidence or surveillance is involved.
Murkomen praised this judicial discretion, noting that it has helped the State build stronger cases.
“My dream is to see a country where peaceful demonstrators in their thousands [are] walking in the streets carrying their pamphlets and being escorted by police officers, marching through defined routes and with time that has [been] allocated. And in the evening, shake hands with police officers and everybody goes home,” he said.
“That is what is promised by Article 37 of the Constitution.”
In recent weeks, the National Police Service (NPS) has faced intense scrutiny over the handling of protests, with human rights organizations accusing officers of excessive force and use of live ammunition.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has since launched investigations into several incidents, including the death of minors and the abductions of protesters.
Despite the tensions, Murkomen maintained that the government intends to uphold the Constitution while preserving law and order.
