Anarchy, violence, plunder must cease at whatever cost

The reign of terror against the people of Kenya and the impunity of dangerous criminal gangs must end at whatever cost, goverment has said.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kindiki Kithure in a statement said, the government is determined to stop criminals aiming to terrorise the public and harm Kenya, notwithstanding attempts to politicise crime.

This following a wave of protests that has rocked the country for the last two weeks over the Finance Bill 2024 that has since been rejected after President William Ruto failed to sign it and withdrew it in its enterity.

In an address to the nation Wednesday last week, President Ruto regretted the widespread expression of dissatisfaction with the passage of the bill triggering demos that resulted in the loss of lives and destruction of property.

He said it was the unfolding events that informed his decision.

“Following the passage of the bill, the country witnessed widespread expression of dissatisfaction with the bill as passed, regrettably resulting in the loss of life, destruction of property and desecration of constitutional institutions… Consequently, having reflected on the continuing conversation around the content of the finance bill of 2024, I will decline to assent to the bill.” “I concede and therefore I will not sign the 2024 finance bill and it shall subsequently be withdrawn,”.

While outlining the reasons behind his relentless push for the proposed additional tax measures contained in the bill, the Head of State said he had backed down to listen to the people.

Prof. Kindiki noted that on Tuesday 25th June 2024, the anti-finance bill protests rocked Nairobi and several other towns in Kenya as a result of which lives were lost, property worth billions of shillings destroyed or looted.

“On Tuesday 25th June 2024, an unprecedented civil unrest occurred in Nairobi and several other towns in Kenya as a result of which lives were lost, property worth billions of shillings destroyed or looted, and an attempt was made to burn down Parliament Buildings.” CS Kindiki said.

He decried despite the termination of the Bill, hordes of marauding criminal gangs continue to pose grave danger to the public, riding on announced plans for peaceful protests to disturb public order, commit arson, obstruct public transport and terrorise the people of Kenya with violence.

“The unrest, legitimately initiated as the democratic expression of public disapproval of the Finance Bill 2024, led to the termination of the Bill.” Said Kindiki. Adding that “Notwithstanding the termination of the Bill, hordes of marauding criminal gangs continue to pose grave danger to the public, riding on announced plans for peaceful protests to disturb public order, commit arson, obstruct public transport and terrorise the people of Kenya with violence.”

He noted that the security agencies remain alert to intercept and thwart harm to the public and attempts to attack critical infrastructure and the emblems of Kenya´s sovereignty.

Prof. Kindiki assured the public that, upon completion of the ongoing evidential analysis, the planners, executors and financiers of large-scale arson, violent robberies and other felonous crimes will be brought to justice.