Ndindi faults state over failure to tame violent protests

Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro says protests escalated despite the police closing major roads leading to Nairobi CBD. [File, Standard].

Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro has criticised the government over the killing of 50 Kenyans within a month during protests across the county.

Nyoro said it was strange that Saba Saba protests on Monday escalated despite the police closing major roads leading to Nairobi central business district.

The MP noted that the National Intelligence Service has a Sh50 billion budget, yet failed to gather intelligence on the planned violent protests that were witnessed in 22 counties.

“If there was that report why were the chaos not stopped to protect the lives of Kenyans?” He posed.

Speaking at Wanjengi Coffee Factory in his Kiharu backyard on Thursday, he said the police who blocked access to Nairobi CBD could not have averted chaos in the counties.

“It is in public knowledge that there are senior politicians spreading narratives through the government agencies, designed to create a rift among Kenyans, a scheme that will fail,” said Nyoro.

The MP lamented that the police with a budget of Sh200 billion failed to effectively contain the violent protests on Monday.

He said leaders in Kajiado, Murang’a, Kirinyaga and Nakuru counties among others have openly said that the goons behind the chaos were transported from other areas.

“It is shocking that after the June 25 chaos, a senior government official walked in the streets of Nairobi parading more than 50 IDs alleging they were left behind by the criminals who participated in looting,” said Ndindi and challenged the government to take responsibility for the chaos.

Several organisations including a global human rights agency have joined the groups condemning the killings witnessed during anti-government protests.  

The UN Commission on Human Rights on Tuesday said it is "deeply troubled" by the recent killings during nationwide protests in Kenya, as well as looting and destruction of property.

Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani told journalists in Geneva that security officers responded to "violent" protests in Nairobi and other 16 counties with the use of lethal ammunition, rubber bullets, tear gas, and water cannons.

"It is very concerning that these latest incidents come barely two weeks after 15 protesters were reportedly killed and many more injured in Nairobi and other parts of Kenya on 25 June," she said. 

Instead of repressing the people with violence and police brutality, the UN called on the government to address the issues raised by protestors.