Nairobi Regional Police Commander George Seda Wednesday said security organs are ready for the planned June 25, 2025 demonstrations.
The protests are scheduled for Wednesday next week in remembrance of the momentous Gen Z protests of 2024.
Seda confirmed that police had received official communication from the organisers and reassured the public that the security organs were fully prepared to ensure the safety of all.
“We have the plan and we shall be there to provide enough and good security to ensure every person who is going to participate and those not going to participate will be safe, for that matter,” said Seda.
“As for June 25th, we have enhanced plans. We equally have a copy of the letter which was delivered to Central (Police Station).”
Seda urged demonstrators to conduct themselves peacefully and avoid provoking law enforcement, which he said has resulted in violence as seen in the recent demos.
“Let us restrict ourselves to what we call peaceful demonstrations. Let us not have demonstrations which are going to interfere with other people who may not be part of the demonstrators,” he appealed.
“Remember, it will be a working day and we shall be having people operating hotels, shops and other businesses. We are looking uncivilised when we start converging, and then as we continue, it turns violent and beats the logic of conducting it, which makes the situation worse.”
He further warned against confrontational conduct during the protests, referencing recent incidents in Nairobi CBD where some civilians protesting the murder of teacher Albert Ojwang violently confronted officers.
“When we become reactive, and you even saw last Thursday when people were provoking armed officers — we are not there to be at war with you, the public, but to provide security,” he said.
The police have assured that both demonstrators and non-demonstrators will be protected during the protests meant to mark the one-year anniversary of the Gen Z protests on June 25, 2024.
In the historic event, youthful protesters broke through Parliament barricades and entered the complex, as lawmakers were debating the contentious Finance Bill 2024 that had sparked widespread outrage.
According to Amnesty International Kenya, hundreds of protesters broke through police barriers outside parliament in Nairobi, with police firing live rounds and injuring “many” people.
A section of Parliament that houses offices was also set on fire as protesters stormed the buildings, accompanied by heavy gunfire from police officers battling the defiant mob.
On the Tuesday protests in Nairobi, Seda denied allegations that police officers had joined forces with goons who infiltrated Tuesday’s protests, citing that the Service did not have any reports of armed goons in their briefing.
During the demonstration calling for justice for Ojwang, armed gangs took the frontline position in confronting the peaceful protesters while under the watch of police officers.
This hinted at a collaboration between the officers and the goons as an attempt to keep protests at bay.
He claimed it was difficult to differentiate between the goons and the protesters.
He pointed out that officers took a cautious approach in their strategy, as arresting individuals without clearly determining whether they were goons could have escalated the situation.
“The goons and the police had no relations. The role the officers played even during that time, there is a team we have sent to ensure we determine what it is that made them be together,” he stated.
“Goons were not in our briefing, and it was also difficult to differentiate between the goons and protesters. Normally, we have diversionary issues in terms of how people work. We have been seeing goons attacking us with stones, they might have changed to using the fimbos in their attack.”
Seda noted that a police team had been assembled to probe the matter and identify the goons and determine who hired them.
When asked whether the goons had been hired by Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja to restore order in the county, the police chief explained that questioning the governor directly would be futile, as he would deny the allegations.
Instead, he noted that by arresting and interrogating a few suspects, they would uncover the truth.
Further, Seda dismissed reports that police officers use live ammunition during protests, claiming that it is not part of the anti-riot gear.
He explained that officers often carry rubber bullets that ought not to be used at close range, as was the case with Kayole-based officer Klinzy Barasa, who shot mask vendor Boniface Kariuki.
“Before we leave for such operations, we have a briefing which is contained in our operation order. In that order, we have the tool for work, which is the riot gear. The highest calibre of ammunition is a rubber bullet. You saw yesterday, they cause damage when shot at close range,” he added.
He also admonished officers who don face masks during the protests, citing that it is not part of the anti-riot gear.
“Face masks are not part of the gear for riots. That one falls against the breach of the principles of operations. We have respirators during protests to protect against the tear gas. We shall emphasise the need to put on the gear as per the operation,” he noted.
His statement comes amid a public uproar by Kenyans who continue to call for swift action against unlawful police conduct.
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