Eldas MP Adan Keynan in Eldas town/STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Eldas MP Adan Keynan has strongly condemned last week’s violent protests across the country, urging young people to uphold peace and reject lawlessness while exercising their constitutional rights.
Speaking in Eldas Town on Monday during the official opening of the newly relocated Markazul Mubarak Madrassa in Bulla Wagberi, Keynan said that while the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression are protected by the Constitution, they must be exercised responsibly.
“We recognise and respect the right to peaceful protest and the passion that fuels the desire for change. However, we urge every young person to reject violence, lawlessness, and actions that put lives and national stability at risk,” Keynan said.
He emphasized that genuine transformation is achieved through dialogue and collective effort, not destruction.
The legislator was responding to last week’s youth-led demonstrations that rocked several cities including Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisii, Eldoret, and Nakuru.
While the protests were sparked by recent police killings, they descended into violence, looting, and widespread property destruction.
Keynan lamented that the demonstrations had deviated from their original purpose and had been hijacked by individuals bent on causing chaos.
“Unfortunately, what we have witnessed is a clear misuse of this freedom—where demonstrations have been hijacked by elements whose actions do not reflect genuine civic engagement, but rather deliberate attempts to sow chaos and incite division. This is not the exercise of democracy; it is an abuse of it,” he said.
He called on the youth not to allow themselves to be used to destabilise the country.
“Do not let anyone take advantage of your energy, your dreams, or your frustrations. Safeguard your future by protecting peace and stability,” he urged.
Keynan’s remarks come amid national outcry over the deadly protests.
President William Ruto, in an address on Friday, expressed deep concern over the violence, ordering immediate investigations.
The President directed the Inspector-General of Police to identify and prosecute those responsible for the chaos.
“Businesses built over decades were burned to the ground, stalls destroyed, warehouses ransacked, and livelihoods reduced to ashes. This was not a peaceful protest. It was calculated chaos. It was economic sabotage,” Ruto said.
He denounced what he described as “anarchy dressed in freedom colours” and “disorder disguised as democracy,” warning that justice would be served.
“I expect the Inspector General and all relevant security agencies to conduct immediate, thorough, and speedy investigations. The perpetrators must be identified, unmasked, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” he directed.
Both Keynan and the President echoed a common call — for responsible civic engagement and the safeguarding of Kenya’s democratic space through peaceful, lawful means.
