Mudavadi calls for dialogue, discipline, police reforms

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi [Mike Kihaki, Standard]

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has called for restraint, dialogue, and a sober national reflection in the wake of widespread protests, increasing public anger, and the controversial handling of demonstrators by police.

Mudavadi said Kenya’s police reform journey is ongoing but must be accelerated and strengthened with funding, training, and constitutional discipline.

“Reforms are a process. You want police to be better? We must change the curriculum, training, and recruitment processes, equip them properly,” he said.

Speaking against calls for police accountability following the Saba Saba protests and subsequent confrontations, he said recent technological upgrades and the creation of oversight bodies like Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA ), are signs of institutional progress, but insisted reforms must now focus on policing culture and human rights.

“We must continue inducting our police and training them on how to handle human rights matters. The new legal framework is far better than before, and with improved communication tools and CCTV networks, we can arrest suspects more professionally. But this requires capacity and a mindset shift,” he said.

Amid public backlash following President William Ruto’s remarks that rioters attacking police stations or businesses should be shot in the leg, Mudavadi urged Kenyans to see both sides of the coin.

“I think the President was simply saying, we can’t keep tolerating anarchy disguised as protest. But even then, the police know the law, and they must act within it,” Mudavadi said.

He acknowledged the legitimate frustrations of Kenyans, especially the youth, over unemployment and inequality, but warned against veering into lawlessness.

“People are angry, yes. The economy is tight. But let’s not confuse criminal behavior with civic expression. Destroying hospitals, courts, or roads is not a protest it is sabotage. The alternative to dialogue is losing lives. That’s painful and unacceptable,” Mudavadi said.

Mudavadi blamed the Kenyan judicial processes, which he said contribute to public misconduct.

“In the UK, within two weeks of arrests, people were sentenced. Here, protesters are arrested, fined modestly, and their cases drag on. That’s part of our broken system. We must also fix the judiciary,” he said.

He reiterated that rogue officers who misuse firearms or are involved in crime are being prosecuted.

Mudavadi admitted there is widespread anxiety across both the public and government ranks, but called for collective responsibility and renewed focus on nation-building.