June 25 Protest Fury: Photos Document Day of Mass Arrests as Murkomen Praises Peace
Kenya's June 25 anniversary demonstrations were largely peaceful, drawing praise from Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen for demonstrating political maturity. Despite this, police arrested 355 individuals for various offenses, and Nairobi experienced disruptions due to heightened security screenings based on intelligence reports.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has reported 355 arrests during Thursday’s June 25 Gen Z anniversary demonstrations, saying security agencies successfully thwarted attempts by criminal elements to infiltrate largely peaceful protests across the country.
He addressed the nation after the commemorations, saying that the demonstrations proceeded without widespread incidents of looting, vandalism, violence or injuries, crediting heightened security measures and public cooperation for maintaining order.
Additionally, peaceful processions were conducted in Nairobi and Mombasa by families, friends of victims of past protests, and members of the public.
Murkomen explicitly commended this conduct, stating, "This is not only commendable but also a testament to the maturity of our politics and governance."
He added that the day's events proved that "when demonstrations are conducted in accordance with the provisions of our Constitution, peace and security are guaranteed," advocating for this as the political culture Kenya should promote.
However, despite the relative calm highlighted by the Interior CS, police authorities made 355 arrests across the country in connection with the demonstrations.
These individuals were apprehended for various offenses, including robbery, vandalism, road obstruction, and attempted theft.
The highest number of arrests was recorded in Nairobi County, where 161 individuals were taken into custody, and Kajiado followed with 123 arrests, while Kiambu reported 36.
Additional arrests were made in Murang'a (12), Bungoma (9), Meru (6), Laikipia (5), and Machakos (3). Meanwhile, no arrests were reported in the North Eastern, Nyanza, or Coast regions.
Moreover, business and transport activities faced disruptions, particularly during the morning hours, due to extensive security screening operations at key entry points into Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD).
According to Murkomen, these heightened security measures were a direct response to intelligence reports indicating that certain individuals had allegedly been mobilized with the intent to disrupt peace in Nairobi.
The implementation of these measures led to a visible heavy security presence and movement checks in various parts of Nairobi and its surrounding areas, as authorities worked to preempt potential security breaches.
The Cabinet Secretary expressed regret for the inconveniences experienced by the public due to these security interventions.
Simultaneously, he voiced appreciation for their effectiveness in successfully safeguarding the city and other regions of the country, reinforcing the government's commitment to maintaining peace and order during public demonstrations.