Kindiki explains reasons for KDF deployment during Anti-government protests

By Robert Mutasi 

The questions that were being raised regarding the presence of soldiers in different streets in Nairobi during the Protests against the controversial Finance Bill 2024 in the country have finally been answered.

Appearing before the parliament for vetting approval , on Thursday, August 1, 2024, Cabinet Secretary  for Internal Security and National Development Kithure Kindiki has explained the reasons that led to deployment of soldiers during the protests.

Kindiki has explained that the essence of bringing the soldiers to the streets was as an alternative to deal with violence and violence if it happened. 

"To the regard to the recent emergence we had, again what we had on 25th of June was unprecedented and our calling for the KDF was simply to put them on standby should they be needed and and you have seen they have not been needed," he stated. 

Kindiki defended the action that the protest that was determined to be peaceful turned and started disturbing peace, so it was necessary to bring in the military. 

Although the soldiers did nothing at that time, Kindiki said they were only there to monitor the security situation and to be standby in case the violence escalated.

The CS for Internal Security has continued to explain to the National Assembly that criminals and people with bad intentions infiltrated the protest and started committing crimes. 

Kindiki claimed that the criminals who were taking advantage of protest had a plan to burn down the Parliament building. 

Apart from planning to burn down parliament, Kindiki claimed, the same criminals again threatened to burn down the State House. 

"It was a precaution because the criminals who wanted to burn parliament were also threatening to burn State House and other critical installations," Kindiki said.

However, Kindiki has said that the soldiers were brought as a sign of warning to the protesters who wanted to cause chaos and damage. 

According to Kindiki, the protest was a threat not only to the Arms of the Government but to the nation itself. 

He has explained to the parliament that they felt the threats of the protesters had increased so they saw the military as the best solution to calm temperature. 

"So if that was not reason enough to put KDF on standby legally, I don't think any other situation would have met threshold because what we faced the last month in our view was extensive threat not just to the Arms of Government but to the state itself," he explained. 

The nation has witnessed the destruction and looting of public property and private businesses in different parts of the country. 

Protests that dominated by a large number of Generation Z have been experienced pressuring the government to discard the controversial Finance Bill 2024 as well as fulfill the issues and grievances they had raised.