CS Kindiki promises ‘more vicious’ police operation ahead of Wednesday demos

Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki on Monday told Kenyans to expect what he described as a more vicious police operation during Wednesday’s planned anti-government protests.

Prof Kindiki said the security operation during last week’s round of demos on Wednesday through Friday was “very small”, adding that the government will not condone any malicious activity in the name of peaceful demonstrations.

“Let people do the politics and whatever they want peacefully and in a civil manner; looting, theft, robbery and crime will not be permitted. We cannot relent on that bit,” the security minister told a security baraza in Baringo.

“Last week’s operation during those three days was very small, this time round we will be even more vicious,” he added.

Wednesday’s protests saw five people shot dead; two in Nairobi, one in Makueni, one in Nakuru, one in Migori and another in Kisumu. Over 38 others were injured, 30 of whom sustained gunshot wounds.

The demonstrations were called by opposition leader Raila Odinga to protest against the high cost of living and increased taxation.

However, Prof. Kindiki says rogue elements have been hiding behind the disguise of constitutional freedoms to loot and destroy property.

He says police will be on high alert on Wednesday, deploying during the wee hours of the day before the planned demos begin.

“We will not allow people to hide under the guise of political rights and the freedoms of our constitution to cause mayhem and bloodshed in our country. On Wednesday, we are ready for them we will deploy from 1 am. We will make sure no hooligan, criminal, or looter gets his way,” Kindiki said.

Wednesday’s protests are the ninth round, even as President Ruto calls for their halt because they are not a solution to the problems of Kenyans.

At the same time, CS Kindiki has announced that the areas gazetted as disturbed and dangerous in the North Rift region will remain so and anyone found in those areas will be dealt with as a bandit.

According to the CS, the operation has been a success and has enabled the local communities to go back to their homes and go on with their lives.

“The residents had abandoned this area and this is the first time they have been able to farm and we have not had incidents since we began this operation in March. We will sustain that environment and I want to ensure the residents of Baringo and all other counties we will not allow those criminals to access those areas, the forests, the gauges, and those who are found there will be dealt with as bandits,” he said.

The CS was speaking during his visit to Sinoni, Kiserian, and Kasiela in Baringo South constituency where the National Police Service and Kenya Defence Forces have been conducting an operation to weed out bandits and armed criminals terrorizing locals.