Police spokesperson Michael Muchiri has urged Kenyans hiring youths to ‘protect’ their businesses during protests to desist and allow security authorities to execute their mandate.
Muchiri warned that hiring protection is unlawful, maintaining that police officers are tasked to ensure that businesses remain safe, and any acts of vandalism shall be effectively investigated.
“Those saying that they are protecting their business should stop. There is no law that gives citizens the right to hire people to protect their businesses,” he told Radio Citizen on Monday.
“Any youth being asked to show up in the protests and protect businesses should know that they are breaching the law to the highest degree.”
This comes after goons were reportedly hired by top political players to cause mayhem during recent demos in Nairobi in the name of “protecting businesses” from being vandalized.
Circulating videos have however showed the goons, armed with batons, mugging protesters and some breaking into shops within the CBD.
Muchiri asserted that the security force is conducting a thorough probe into the violent incidents by examining CCTV footage and suspects will be apprehended.
“After analysing the videos we have seen that people will start getting arrested. We will go for those who came out to say that they are protecting businesses. Any act that has breached the law shall not happen again,” the police spokesperson said.
He maintained that despite public upheaval against the ruling administration should not justify violence, calling for restraint and peaceful demonstrations set for June 25.
“It is important to uphold peace and ensure that Kenya remains steadfast. The protests we have had are a lesson to us and we shall use it as a learning curve to inform our conduct in future,” he said.
“We are also human beings. We urge Kenyans to kindly give our officers the respect they deserve. The unlawful incidents we have witnessed do not represent who we are as the police force.”
Protesters plan to hold nationwide demonstrations on June 25 to remember the victims of the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests while also calling for justice for those gunned down by rogue police officers.
Nairobi Central OCPD Stephen Okal, who met with the protest organisers, has assured that officers will provide adequate protection.
