Murkomen assessing the damage caused by demonstrators in Nairobi on Thursday morning together with top police chiefs.
By IP reporter.
NAIROBI, Kenya .
Kenya’s Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said Thursday that the violent protests that erupted across the country on June 25 were not just public demonstrations, but a “well-orchestrated attempt to overthrow the government.”
Speaking at a press conference in Nairobi, Murkomen alleged that groups behind the protests had plotted to storm Parliament, State House, and key installations in what he called an “unconstitutional regime change operation.”
“This was not a protest. This was an attempted coup. It was terrorism disguised as activism,” Murkomen declared. “Had police not intervened, this country would be dealing with a completely different crisis.”
Deaths and Damage
At least 16 people were confirmed dead by human rights organizations, though the government’s official toll stands at 10. More than 400 were injured, including over 300 police officers, some critically.
Several hospitals in Nairobi reported an influx of patients with bullet wounds and blunt-force trauma, prompting criticism of excessive force by police.
Murkomen detailed widespread damage:
88 police vehicles and 28 government cars vandalized or torched
9 police stations attacked; 5 set on fire
65 private vehicles and dozens of shops destroyed.
Homes of pro-government figures looted or razed
Businesses in Nairobi’s Central Business District, Kisumu, Nakuru, and Eldoret remained closed for much of the day as demonstrators clashed with security officers.
Youth-led Protest Movement.
The protests, largely organized online by Gen Z activists, marked the one-year anniversary of the deadly June 25, 2024 anti-tax protests.
Those demonstrations left over 60 people dead and are now a symbol of state brutality and youth resistance.
This year’s protests were sparked by the alleged custodial death of activist and blogger Albert Ojwang, who was detained earlier in June in unclear circumstances. His death reignited nationwide calls for police reform, accountability, and economic justice.
Protesters carried placards bearing Ojwang’s face alongside slogans like #RutoMustGo and #JusticeForOjwang. Marches were observed in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisii, Bungoma, Kakamega, and as far north as Isiolo.
Government’s Defense and Crackdown.
Murkomen denied police used excessive force and instead lauded officers for “upholding constitutional order.” He also claimed intelligence reports confirmed that foreign funding and local political coordination were behind the protests.
“We have credible evidence that millions of shillings were used to incite violence. Trucks were seen offloading cash to mobs,” he said. “This wasn’t spontaneous. It was financed.”
He confirmed that investigations are underway into both the alleged financiers and “digital mobilizers” of the unrest. Some organizers have reportedly been detained without charge under Kenya’s cybercrime laws, triggering further outrage from rights groups.
In a controversial move, the government shut down live broadcasts of the protests and restricted access to CCTV footage from Nairobi’s surveillance system, sparking accusations of a cover-up.
Opposition Pushback.
Opposition leaders have strongly rejected Murkomen’s claims of a coup attempt. DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa, who visited injured protesters at Kenyatta National Hospital on Thursday, called the remarks “a diversion from the truth.”
“These young people weren’t trying to overthrow the government. They’re demanding that it works for them.
Their cries are for jobs, justice, and dignity,” Wamalwa said.
Prominent activist Boniface Mwangi warned the government against criminalizing dissent.
“Labeling protest as terrorism is how democracies die. If they can call unarmed youth coup plotters, what will they call the next generation?”
International Concern
The United Nations and several Western embassies have called for restraint, urging the Kenyan government to uphold human rights and investigate both the violence and the circumstances surrounding Ojwang’s death.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
Ends.
