Murkomen hails Mombasa as model for peaceful protests
Protestors worked closely with security agencies, allowing normal business activities to continue uninterrupted throughout the day.
Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has commended the people of Mombasa for conducting peaceful protests, describing the county as a model that should be emulated by residents in other parts of the country.
Assessing the June 25 demonstrations held to mark the second anniversary of the Gen Z protests, Murkomen said demonstrators in the coastal city worked closely with security agencies, allowing normal business activities to continue uninterrupted throughout the day.
“I must thank the people of Mombasa. They conducted peaceful protests, presented their petitions and then went home. Mombasa is such a great example. We should borrow from the people of Mombasa. For two consecutive years, they have carried out public protests and demonstrations in a peaceful manner,” he said.
“Today is proof that when demonstrations are conducted in accordance with the provisions of our Constitution, peace and security are guaranteed. This is the political culture we should encourage and promote as a country,” he added.
Speaking during a press conference, Murkomen said demonstrations in Mombasa over the past two years had been conducted peacefully, with no incidents of looting, vandalism, skirmishes or injuries that have characterised protests in some parts of the country, particularly Nairobi.
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He also praised security agencies for maintaining law and order during Thursday's demonstrations, saying their preparedness and intelligence-led operations helped prevent criminal elements from infiltrating the protests and causing chaos.
“Acting on credible intelligence that goons were being ferried from other parts of the country to cause a breach of peace in Nairobi, our security agencies took measures to protect businesses in the city and avert chaos,” he said.
Murkomen said the majority of arrests were recorded in Nairobi and counties bordering the capital, with Nairobi registering 161 arrests, Kajiado 123 and Kiambu 36.
According to the Interior Ministry, no arrests were reported across the entire Nyanza, Coast and North Eastern regions during the anniversary demonstrations.
Murkomen acknowledged that security checks mounted along major routes leading into Nairobi ahead of the protests inconvenienced some motorists and travellers. However, he maintained that the measures were necessary and effective in protecting lives, property and businesses.
He reiterated that the government remains committed to facilitating peaceful demonstrations while taking firm action against individuals who seek to exploit such events to commit crimes or undermine public order.
