Murkomen makes surprise dawn sweep of Nairobi ahead of protests

Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen, Deputy IG Police Gilbert Masengeli and IG Police Douglas Kanja on June 25, 2025.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen made a surprise early morning tour of Nairobi’s Central Business District on Wednesday, ahead of protests commemorating the first anniversary of the 2024 Gen Z-led demonstrations.

Accompanied by Deputy Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli, Murkomen walked to Jogoo House A, where he held a security briefing with Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja.

Before the meeting, the CS stopped by Harambee House and interacted with police officers on duty. 

The government has stepped up surveillance across Nairobi, with police mounting roadblocks around sensitive installations, including Parliament and State House. This follows online calls for a symbolic march to State House as part of Wednesday’s commemorations.

The planned protests are being held for those who lost their lives during the June 2024 demonstrations, which saw thousands of youth take to the streets in what became a turning point in Kenya’s civic activism.

The protests culminated in the storming of Parliament, an unprecedented event in the country’s post-independence history.

Yesterday, Kanja issued a firm reminder on the limits of civil protest, urging Kenyans to exercise restraint. “As we exercise our rights, let us remember: Kenya is our homeland. We only have this country. Let us protect it,” he said.

He stressed that while the Constitution protects the right to peaceful assembly, the Public Order Act and the Penal Code outline the limits of lawful demonstrations.

“Any protest that descends into violence or disrupts public order will be considered unlawful, and police will respond as mandated. Unauthorized persons must also refrain from accessing protected areas as defined under the Protected Areas Act,” he warned.