Kindiki vows crackdown on attacks targeting police, state facilities

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has issued a stern warning to individuals behind recent attacks on police stations and government installations, vowing that such actions will be met with the full force of the law.

Speaking on Friday during a women, youth, and small-scale trader empowerment event in Kanyange, Kitui Rural constituency, the DP condemned the violent turn of Wednesday’s protests, which saw widespread destruction, looting, and targeted assaults on state institutions.

“If you are involved in these criminal and terror activities, we are coming for you. We will not wait for you to cause more deaths and destruction. We will come for you the way we have done with Al Shabaab terrorists,” Kindiki warned.

The Deputy President said the government views the violence as a serious threat to national stability, asserting that no political agenda, however popular, would justify the endangerment of public safety and the destruction of vital infrastructure.

“This is no longer a laughing matter. We won’t allow any attempt to destroy the security and stability of Kenya. We are willing to become unpopular politically but save the security and future of Kenya,” he said.

Kindiki maintained that the original spirit of the Gen Z-led protests—centered on accountability, transparency, and youth empowerment—had been hijacked by “criminal elements with ulterior motives,” turning peaceful demonstrations into opportunities for chaos and lawlessness.

“We cannot allow Kenya to go to the dogs as we watch and laugh and make fun about it,” he said, warning that law enforcement would act decisively to prevent a recurrence.

Citing Kenya’s painful historical experiences—including the 1982 coup attempt and the 2007/08 post-election violence—Kindiki drew a sharp line against any form of destabilisation.

“It didn’t take many hours to regain control from the coup plotters, but the number of lives lost and the kind of destruction witnessed was huge. The painful repercussions are still being felt today,” he said. “We would not allow the nation to go down that route again.”

While affirming the government's commitment to the constitution, including the protection of rights to peaceful protest and free expression, Kindiki emphasised that those rights do not extend to violence, theft, or attacks on national security organs.

“We won’t interfere with the freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution, but we would not allow anybody to attack security facilities, steal guns and ammunition in the name of exercising their rights,” he stated. “We will protect the nation’s stability and order.”