- This happened as police clashed with protesters who turned up following a call to protest the high cost of living among other issues.
- Most of them were released from custody on Tuesday after protesting they were being held illegally.
Image: CHARLENE MALWA
More than 200 people were arrested during Monday’s mass protests, police have revealed.
Inspector General of police Japhet Koome said 31 police officers were injured in the chaos.
This happened as police clashed with protesters who turned up following a call to protest the high cost of living among other issues.
“We wish to inform the public that during Monday's demonstrations, we arrested 25 people, while seven officers were injured in Nyanza. In Nairobi, 10 police vehicles were damaged, 24 officers injured while 213 persons arrested were,” Koome said.
Most of them were released from custody on Tuesday after protesting they were being held illegally. Koome issued a statement to explain the protests which he termed unlawful.
He insinuated the protests only happened in Nairobi and Kisumu whereas there were protests in Kitale, Nyamira, Nakuru, Thika, Migori and Mombasa.
Koome said one male student from Maseno University was killed in the protests in Kisumu. He said investigations into the matter are ongoing.
“In compliance with the Constitution and the National Police Service Act of 2011, we have commenced our Investigations into the matter. In addition, we remain open to external scrutiny by independent constitutional agencies as we strive to promote and practice transparency and accountability within the police,” he said.
“We want to remind the public that no one is above the law. Instead, there is a slippery slope between freedom of assembly, picketing, and petitioning as enshrined in Article 37 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, and the blatant infringement of the rights of others as we saw in yesterday's unlawful demonstrations.”
He condemned the unwarranted violence that was meted out against officers discharging their official duties.
This is even as he commended police throughout the country for their sacrificial service to the nation and their patriotism.
“As members of the National Police Service, we endeavour to remain politically impartial and hereby reiterate our commitment to serve and protect with the highest standards of professionalism and discipline,” he said.
Koome said Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Alliance leaders and their supporters held illegal demonstrations, allegedly protesting against what they termed as high cost of living, but their sole aim was to invade the State House.
He said, what the organizers purported to be a peaceful demonstration turned into violent crime scenes with protestors engaging in running battles with, and stone-throwing at the anti-riot police officers, and barricading roads thus hindering freedom of movement for law-abiding citizens.
He said this amounted to nothing short of violence against police and economic sabotage.
“Despite their provocation against police, our officers executed their national security mandate professionally; upholding the rule of law and utmost respect for human rights,” he said.
He said police used force gradually beginning with the lowest threshold which is show-off force and barely reinforced by water cannons and lobbying teargas canisters to prevent the protestors from accessing central business districts of the cities as well as protected areas, to prevent further destruction.