Police in Nyeri say they have not received any notification from any group of people planning to take part in tomorrow’s much-hyped Gen Z anniversary commemorations.
Area Police Chief David Too, however, says security agents will be on high alert to thwart any form of hooliganism that will try to undermine the peace of the county.
Too said adequate security will be provided to ensure peace-loving Kenyans attend to their day-to-day activities without disruption from any quarter.
“We want to assure the residents of this County that we have not received any communication that there is going to be any demos tomorrow. We therefore wish to categorically state that tomorrow will be a normal working day like any other. However, in the event groups of persons decide to breach the tranquility of the county, we shall respond accordingly as security enforcers,” said Too.
On his part Nyeri Deputy County Commissioner Maina Ngunyi has advised residents to exercise personal discretion while going to crowded places such as supermarkets and malls.
Ngunyi stressed that while the Government will do everything it can to ensure there is ample security tomorrow, it remained the prerogative of an individual to keep off harm’s way.
“We want to advise our people to remain safe and avoid visiting places where they can endanger their lives. We also wish to advice all business operators to avoid opening their premises until the safety of such ventures is assured. There is no need to open your business only to have it looted by marauding goons disguised as protesters,” he advised.
The administrator has also advised young people to avoid taking part in unlawful activities in the name of taking part in demos warning that such activities may end up jeopardizing their very lives.
He also noted that the past violent demos that have been witnessed in the county have been dominated by young people from the informal settlements like Witemere and Blue Valley located on the outskirts of Nyeri town.
“We have noted with concern that young people are now using online social platform for mobilization ahead of tomorrows planned protests. But we wish to advise our young people to keep off these dangerous protests since they may end up losing their lives in the process. It is true we have challenges facing us as a country but taking to the streets to loot and destroy people’s property will never address any of these problems,” he has stated.
During this year’s Madaraka Day fete, Nyeri County Commissioner Josephat Biowott disclosed that criminals have in the past been leading demos or joining peaceful ones with the sole intention of stealing or vandalizing people’s property.
The administrator stated that while the Constitution gave citizens the right to picket, it did not in any way give room for anyone or a group of persons to enjoy that right at the expense of others.
He cited the recent protests witnessed in the county over the cost of fuel as a case in point where looters took over entire towns for hours, paralyzing businesses and bringing public transport to a standstill.
“As members of the County Security Team we have vowed to put an end to this hooliganism by goons who are stealing and destroying people’s business in the name of protests. We have sat with our business operators and officials from the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industries and agreed to put an end to this madness,” said Biwott while addressing the public during the celebrations at Muthuaini Girls Secondary School grounds.
“There is no country where protesters are given liberty to burn tires on roads, disrupt traffic and block even an elderly woman taking her milk to the market all in the name of fighting for one’s rights. Lawful protest does not entail curtailing the other person’s rights.”
The Commissioner also called upon members of the public to assist the Government enhance security in their area of residence by reporting lawbreakers to security officers.
Biwott said while security officers would do their part in apprehending lawbreakers, it remains the responsibility of the citizens to volunteer any information that will assist in disclosing the whereabouts of such criminals.
“To dismantle this problem of goons from our county we must expose them to law enforcers. Do not protect goons. We have information that some of these criminals are hiding in our informal centers such as Witemere and Majengo and we would like you to help us smoke them out,”he urged.
Kenya witnessed one of its worst protests in June 25 2024 when young protesters took to the streets in more than 35 counties in opposition to the then Finance Bill 2024.
Figures from the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNHRC) put the number of those who lost their lives at 60 with the country losing revenue running into billions of shillings in lost business.
By Samuel Maina
