Rogue demonstrators, police must face the law

Parts of vandalised Mlolongo Express way with objects strewn all over on Wednesday, July, 12, 2023. [Samson Wire, Standard]

Demonstrations held on Wednesday point to heightened discontent among citizens. The high cost of living is bogging many of them down in the midst of an economy that is anything but thriving.

The discontent is driven by the belief that President William Ruto is insensitive to their plight, especially after he assented to the Finance Bill, 2023 despite opposition to provisions that sought to increase taxation.

Ruto's desire to build a stable economy, though well intentioned, is not in sync with present day realities of the common citizen's struggles, and therein lies the rub. Wednesday's demonstrations were a sign that things could get worse unless the president takes charge of the situation. Indeed, he holds the key.

Demonstrations are protected in law, and that right should be upheld by the government. However, demos held on Wednesday bordered on anarchy, which should be stopped. Importantly, perpetrators of the destruction should be brought to book. The damage caused to the Nairobi Expressway, which was put up at great cost to the taxpayers, is unacceptable.

It does not help that while the government blames the opposition for the destruction, the opposition claims the government hired goons to cause the mayhem and blame it on them. Such back and forth is unacceptable. Police should get to the bottom of it.

Admittedly, police officers are human and have the right to defend themselves when confronted with danger. It is, however unacceptable that police officers should hurl teargas into a primary school compound as happened in Kangemi, Nairobi, where at least 53 pupils had to be hospitalised.

Restraint and decorum are also expected of the police when arresting non-violent protesters. A clip of a police officer manhandling a female leader in Nyahururu was akin to sexual harassment. Such actions lower the esteem of police officers in the eyes of the public, depict them as sadists, and cement the perception that it is actually police officers who fuel violence during demonstrations. Everything must be done within the confines of the law as our guiding light.