Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi calls for restraint, urges police not to harm protestors

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi. (Photo: X/Musalia Mudavadi)

By Bashir Mbuthia
Sunday, July 13, 2025

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen initially authorised the use of lethal force to quell the demonstrations, a move that drew sharp criticism from Kenyans and rights groups.

Prime Cabinet Secretary (CS) Musalia Mudavadi has urged restraint from both Kenyans and security agencies, warning that the ongoing anti-government demonstrations are harming innocent civilians and critical institutions.

In a statement shared on X on Sunday, Mudavadi urged law enforcement authorities to avoid injuring civilians exercising their constitutional right to protest. He, at the same time, called on demonstrators to respect the rights and property of others.

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"Let us ponder and reflect on some of our actions, as we also ask the security agencies not to injure citizens when they express their constitutional right," said Mudavadi. "We also, in equal measure, request the citizens, when you protest, please also respect the rights of others."

Mudavadi also identified the Meru Cooperative Society as one of the unintended victims of the protests, saying it had suffered significant losses after being attacked by demonstrators.

"I know the Meru Cooperative Society suffered a serious hit in Meru because protestors decided they had an axe to grind with the government, but the Meru Cooperative Society became collateral damage," he said.

Additionally, the Prime CS stressed that for Kenya to move forward, both the government and the public must uphold principles of respect and responsibility.

"It is that kind of respect for each other that will make Kenya great; that is the hallmark of civilised nations and democratic societies," he added.

According to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), 38 people have died in connection with the recent Saba Saba Day protests, with over 130 others nursing injuries across the country.

In a statement released Friday, the commission said 14 of the 15 postmortems conducted so far revealed the victims died from gunshot wounds inflicted by police. Among the dead is a 12-year-old girl in Kiambu who was hit by a stray bullet while watching television at home.

KNCHR listed the fatalities by region as follows: Kiambu (8), Nairobi (6), Kajiado (6), Nakuru (4), Kirinyaga (3), Murang'a (3), Embu (2), Meru (2), Laikipia (2), Nyandarua (1), and Nyamira (1).

The commission noted that four women and two children were among those killed, with the majority of the victims being youth under the age of 25.

The alarming rise in police-related shootings and fatalities during the protests has prompted President William Ruto to direct police officers to shoot to maim, specifically aiming at the legs, rather than to kill.

"Anyone who burns down someone else's business and property, let them be shot in the leg and go to the hospital as they head to court. Yes, let them not kill, but shoot and break the legs. Destroying people's property is not right," said Ruto last week.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen initially authorised the use of lethal force to quell the demonstrations, a move that drew sharp criticism from Kenyans and rights groups.