NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga has condemned the recent violence and criminal activities that have marred peaceful protests initially organized by young Kenyans expressing disaffection with the government.
In a statement, the Orange Democratic Movement leader emphasized the need to distinguish between genuine protestors and criminals exploiting the situation for personal gain.
In the statement, he highlighted how the protests, which began as peaceful demonstrations and petitions, descended into chaos.
Reports indicate that individuals who were not part of the original protest groups hijacked the movement, leading to looting, attacks on innocent Kenyans, and destruction of vital infrastructure.
“We have received reports of innocent women being harassed and raped in some parts of the country,” the statement read.
“The scenes of looting, vandalizing, and robbing were starkly different from the organized and controlled protests led by the youth at the outset.”
Odinga condemned the actions of those who turned the peaceful protests into a platform for criminal activity.
The statement extended deep sympathy to the victims of these acts, including business owners whose premises were looted and destroyed.
“I extend deep sympathy to the families who’ve suffered at the hands of looters posing as Gen Z protestors. Innocent people have seen their businesses broken into and their products looted, facing the harsh reality of being worse off than before the protests,” the statement read.
While acknowledging past instances of police brutality against peaceful protestors and continuing to demand accountability from security officers, Odinga’s statement called for an end to the criminal behavior seen during the protests.
He urged that the integrity of the youth-led movement should not be compromised by the actions of a few criminals.
“The young people who started the protests were out to correct injustices in the country and educate us that protests can be peaceful, civil, and still achieve the intended goals,” Odinga stated.
“For thugs to hijack the protests and turn them into mayhem against innocent Kenyans amounts to a double betrayal of the youth. This bad behavior must be stopped.”
