Protests turn chaotic amid IG Kanja’s call for peaceful demonstrations

By Shadrack Nyakoe

The protests organized by young Kenyans, often referred to as Gen Z, initially began peacefully on Tuesday, July 16, 2024.

This follows a call by Acting Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja for peaceful demonstrations under the constitutional rights guaranteed by Article 37.

However, the situation escalated as the day progressed.

In his statement, acting IG Kanja emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and warned about the potential for criminal infiltration aimed at destabilizing the demonstrations.

“While you demonstrate, we urge you to remain peaceful and vigilant. Please collaborate, cooperate and coordinate with the police to ensure your safety and our collective security as Kenyans is guaranteed during the event,” acting IG Kanja said.

Despite his call for cooperation and vigilance, clashes between the police and protesters erupted.

By the afternoon, the situation had deteriorated in major towns like Nairobi, Mombasa, Kakamega, Eldoret, Nyeri, and Machakos, with reports of roadblocks, fires, and business closures.

One protester in Nairobi expressed frustration over being arrested for merely buying a whistle and the national flag, questioning the basis of his arrest.

“I was arrested buying a whistle and the national flag. How have I broken the law?” Asked the protester in Nairobi town.

The escalating tensions underscore the delicate balance between exercising constitutional rights and maintaining public order.

Read also:- KNCCI Urges Peace and Dialogue Amid Protests to Safeguard Business and Economy