Murkomen warns vandalism, arson and looting now considered terrorism in Kenya

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has declared that anyone who invades or vandalises government or private property is a terrorist and will face terrorism charges, emphasising that such acts meet the legal threshold under Kenyan law.

Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, Murkomen cited the June 25 and July 7, 2025, demonstrations, pointing to the destruction of police stations, public offices, and private businesses as clear examples of terrorism.

“You don’t have to be Osama bin Laden to be a terrorist. Once you invade a police station, burn a court, supermarket, or a government installation, create fear, disrupt emergency services like medical or transport, you are a terrorist. What remains is to go through the court process to determine culpability,” he said.

He noted that financing such activities is an even more serious offence.

Murkomen warned that many underestimate the severity of these charges until conviction.

“These things are laughable until the day of conviction. It’s still a joke until you are convicted of terror, then you realise the consequences it brings to you, your loved ones, and anyone close to you,” he said.

Although normalcy largely returned after the 2024 anti-finance Bill protests, Murkomen said political actors reignited mobilisation for fresh demonstrations in June and July, mainly through social media hashtags such as #OccupyStatehouse, #OccupyEverywhere, and #SirinNiNumbers.

He added that no prior notification was given to police, as required by law, and the National Police Service (NPS) only learned of the planned protests through media reports.

Chaos and violence

While some organisers assured security agencies of peaceful demonstrations, the CS said, “Contrary to those assurances, the protests quickly escalated into chaos and violence, culminating in looting, arson and widespread destruction of public and private property.”

Murkomen detailed that the unrest led to the torching of nine police stations and posts, the deputy county commissioner’s office, court buildings, supermarkets, and numerous private businesses, causing heavy economic losses and disrupting essential services.

During the Saba Saba protests, 25 people were killed, 45 civilians were injured, and 170 police officers were wounded. On June 25, nearly 600 people were injured, including 496 law enforcement officers.

Public facilities, such as the Dagoretti Police Post, were targeted, with criminals stealing firearms and torching residential buildings housing police families. Similar attacks occurred in Kikuyu, Machakos, Kakamega, Kisii, Meru, and Nairobi.

Guns stolen

Murkomen also reported incidents where guns stolen from police posts were later used in robberies, suspects disrupted hospital operations and emergency surgeries, and mobs looted goods worth millions of shillings from supermarkets across several counties. In total, 16 police stations and posts were burnt or destroyed over the two days of unrest.

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“These events were well-orchestrated and coordinated with the intention of inciting unrest, destabilising public order and undermining national stability,” Murkomen said, adding that police are constitutionally mandated to maintain law and order during demonstrations.

He cited Article 37 of the Constitution, which permits peaceful, unarmed assembly, but noted that the right is limited under Article 24 to protect public order, safety, and the rights of others. Under the Public Order Act, organisers must notify police in writing at least three days before protests, including details such as names, estimated numbers, and planned routes.

To prevent further violence, Murkomen told MPs that police patrols have been intensified in high-risk areas, while the Ministry is lobbying for increased budgetary support to enhance operational capacity.

He highlighted the adoption of modern policing technologies, including drones, digital communications, and incident mapping tools, as well as real-time intelligence networks to detect potential disturbances.

Authorities are also engaging community leaders and civil society to promote peaceful resolutions and issuing public advisories to discourage unlawful activities.

Arrests

Murkomen stressed that prosecutions are critical in deterring future offences, revealing that about 1,500 people have been arrested nationwide on charges including terrorism, murder, robbery with violence, sexual assault, arson, malicious damage to property, and attacks on strategic infrastructure.

He said 15 individuals linked to protest planning and mobilisation have already been charged under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, alongside offences such as unlawful assembly, incitement to violence, destruction of public property, aiding and abetting unlawful acts, and unlawful possession of ammunition and canisters.

The CS said investigations are ongoing to identify more financiers and mobilisers, with forensic analysis of financial records, company registrations, and NGO activities underway.

Murkomen further noted that NPS is working with agencies, including the National Intelligence Service, Communications Authority, Registry of Companies, Financial Reporting Centre, and National Transport and Safety Authority, to expedite cases.

The CS further said anyone seeking to challenge his directives to the police during the heightened protests period last month to refer to the directives he issued on police use of force.

"I made the statement consciously knowing that the responsibility to make police officers accountable is with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and this is the ministry that has a policy responsibility to ensure that police officers are responsible, in our Jukwaa la Usalama forums where we have been meeting all the OCSs in every county, the sub county commanders, the county commanders, the county security teams- I have also made it clear that the police officers should be respectful to the people of Kenya, should not apply excessive force and should protect themselves when their lives are in danger," he said.

"I know this conversation is in the context of a peaceful area like Nairobi, but when I went to places like Samburu, Tana River, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, where this conversation changes because of the life-threatening environment that the police officers operate in, suddenly the use of force becomes something else. The directive I gave is uniform, not just for protests. Any citizen who wants to hold me accountable before a court of law or parliament can pick the policy directive and hold me to account."

The question was prompted by Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji, who was part of those who were arrested, detained and charged with terror-related charges at the time.

He told Parliament that he was waylaid along Thika road by about 40 police officers who took him to a police station in Gatundu, and without charges, was placed in a cell alone, and anyone who came to see him was denied access.

"I want to ask Waziri to be genuine on matters related to do with fighting criminals. I want to ask Waziri whether, while giving statistics (and I have seen many young people being charged with terrorism in Kahawa), he is genuine in pushing for such enormous charges that we know are charged to people like Osama Bin Laden and Al-Shabaab," the MP said.

The CS further told MPs that the organisers of the demonstrations against the killing of Albert Ojwang' on June 17, 2025, did not notify the National Police Service of any planned demonstrations as required by the law.

"The police learnt of the planned demonstrations through the media, prompting the responsible commanders to make immediate arrangements, including the deployment of officers to maintain public order and ensure public safety," said Murkomen.

He added that on the material day, groups of youths assembled in various locations, chanting 'Justice for Ojwang' and soon began engaging in running battles and hurling stones at each other.

"One group claimed to be participating in a peaceful demonstration, while the other purported to be protecting their properties and business premises. The situation, however, escalated into violence, resulting in the breaking into business premises and looting of property," Murkomen said.

"This prompted the deployment of police officers to restore order and public safety. To quell demonstrators who had turned into violent rioters, some of whom were breaking into shops, looting property and engaging the police in running battles across the streets, an unfortunate incident occurred in which Boniface Kariuki was shot. The act is deeply regrettable and unjustified since the officers should have used minimal force to flush him out," he said.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority took over investigations into the incident and the officers involved; PC Klinzy Barasa Masinde and PC Duncan Kiprono were interdicted from duty and arraigned before court to face appropriate charges.

On whether the police officers were complicit in or provided support to armed goons, Mukomen said the National Police Service is committed to executing its mandate professionally and whenever it requires support, a multi-agency team is called upon to offer necessary support.

"According to the police analysis, there were two groups engaged in running battles within the CBD, one group purportedly peaceful demonstrators and the other protecting their properties and business premises. Police officers responded to restore order and public safety without taking sides with any of the two groups," claimed the CS.