Prof. Kindiki said many people incurred losses and others were sexually assaulted when goons attacked them.

“I am shocked to see some politicians celebrating the kind of destruction, rape and lawlessness we all saw on Wednesday. As we speak now, there are many people who woke up with possessions and businesses but slept as paupers because their businesses were looted and burnt down.

Now tell me, what mistake did those business people make? How can a person who seeks to lead this country or has held leadership positions before celebrate the kind of anarchy we saw on Wednesday?” he posed.

The Deputy President spoke on Monday during Empowerment forum for youth, women and small-scale traders at Mitaboni Grounds, Kathiani Constituency, Machakos County.

“This is the time to make a firm stand. The lines are clearly drawn. Those who support the rule of law for a safe and secure nation and those supporting anarchy. We must all take a position, including our political and religious leaders, and even our foreign friends and diplomats,” DP added.

In the wake of the violent protests, the DP, however, assured Kenyans that the government will not waver in maintaining law and order and protecting them from goons and anarchists.

“We will not infringe rights and freedoms entrenched in the Constitution but those who take advantage of this to loot, rape, torch and violate other people’s rights will face the full force of the law. There is a difference between anarchy and democracy,” he noted.

In doing so, the DP said it will not be about protecting the administration’s popularity but enforcing the rule of law to ensure the nation’s stability is maintained.

“If protecting the peace and stability of Kenya will cost us popularity, then so be it. We cannot allow our country to disintegrate and be overrun by anarchists and criminals. It is either we have a country governed by the rule of law or under goons and anarchists,” he added.

At the same time, the Deputy President said the government has opened the doors to all Kenyans to listen to their grievances and act accordingly in order to strengthen the nation’s prosperity and unity.

The DP noted that the administration is not averse to views from Kenyans from any side of the country promising to continue engaging with them in various forums to better service delivery.

“We are listening to all Kenyans because we are a listening government. We are fighting ills such as corruption, theft of public funds, misuse of public resources as demanded by the people who want a better country,” he said.

He reiterated the commitment to engage young people in order to incorporate their demands in the management of the country’s affairs.

“The young people have asked us to take good care of the country because they want to inherit a united and prosperous nation not divided and undeveloped. We have heard them and we will continue to listen to them as we reform and align the governance of the nation with the interest of all Kenyans including them,” he stated.

Prof. Kindiki, who has been spearheading empowerment engagements in various constituencies, indicated that they are timely forums to also hear from citizens on how they want their country to be run.

“The empowerment program is a way of engaging with our citizens because our main interest is to meet their needs, improve service delivery because the people are at the centre of our governance,” he added.