MPs approve deployment of KDF after deadly protests

Members of Parliament on Wednesday morning approved the deployment of Kenya Defence Forces officers within the country to restore order after deadly protests.

The House voted to approve a motion by National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah hours after Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale gazetted their KDF deployment.

The soldiers will support the Kenya Police Service to restore normalcy across the country after anti-Finance Bill protests turned tragic on Tuesday.

In a gazette notice dated June 25, the Defence CS cited Article 241 (3) (b) of Kenya’s constitution to declare the deployment of the Kenya Defence Forces in support of the National Police Service.

“The Kenya Defence Forces is deployed on the 25th June, 2024 in support of the National Police Service in response to the security emergency caused by the ongoing violent protests in various parts of the Republic of Kenya resulting in destruction and broaching of critical infrastructure,” the gazette notice reads. 

Already, military officers have now been deployed to all protected areas across the country.

The deployment also follows a gazette notice by Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale last night.

Among the areas now under the tight guard of KDF are State Houses which include Nairobi, Nakuru and Mombasa and also lodges across the country.

At Nakuru, they were seen lined up at the main road leading to the State House.

Military presence has also been witnessed at late Jomo Kenyatta’s mausoleum next to parliament.

Anti-finance bill protesters who breached Parliament’s barricade also destroyed property at the mausoleum including the perimeter wall.

Under the Protected Areas Act, no unauthorised entry is allowed into these areas.