Probe and stop the criminals in protests
What you need to know:
- Families have once again been thrown into tears and deep mourning, as business owners count their losses.
- The goons infiltrating peaceful demonstrations and causing so much pain have no place in our civilised nation.
The deaths of at least 15 people and widespread destruction of property during Wednesday’s anti-government protests are a grave loss to the country. While staging peaceful demonstrations is a constitutional right, the lawlessness that has been witnessed poses a danger that cannot just be ignored.
It is also an unfortunate desecration of the memory of the 60 people killed in the June 2024 Gen Z protests against “punitive and oppressive” taxation, which the demonstrations were meant to commemorate. Instead, we have been left with more deaths and destruction and an ominous threat to national peace and stability.
Families have once again been thrown into tears and deep mourning, as the owners of looted businesses count their losses. The goons infiltrating peaceful demonstrations and causing so much pain have no place in our civilised nation.
President William Ruto and his Deputy Kithure Kindiki have condemned the loss of lives, destruction of property, and looting. They have vowed the government will not allow the country to slide into anarchy.
Prevent illegal actions
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has also been reading the riot act. Mr Murkomen has even intimated that the criminals should be shot dead. This would be the wrong way to deal with this new threat to our nation.
For their part, Opposition leaders are saying the government must accept that there is a problem and initiate a national conversation.
Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja and other security chiefs have the expertise, experience, and resources to deal firmly with the lawbreakers. However, we cannot afford to return to the sorry “shoot-to-kill” directives that wreaked havoc in the past.
There is a lot of pain in families because of the loss of loved ones. But the solution is not extrajudicial killings. Ours is a civilised society that cherishes the rule of law. Security personnel must work harder to prevent illegal actions. Thorough and proper investigations should be carried out.