Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has claimed that Wednesday’s nationwide protests were not peaceful demonstrations but a coordinated attempt to overthrow President William Ruto’s administration.
Speaking to the press on Thursday afternoon after touring parts of the Nairobi Central Business District affected by the unrest, Murkomen described the events as an “attempted coup,” orchestrated by hired criminals masquerading as protestors.
“There was no peaceful demonstration. It was riots, chaos, and anarchy,” he stated. “We condemn the criminal anarchists who, under the guise of protest, unleashed a wave of violence, looting, sexual assault, and destruction upon our people.”
Murkomen went further, saying the protests were not spontaneous but a premeditated and politically driven uprising designed to destabilize the country. He alleged that the perpetrators had a specific plan to target police officers, access armouries, and steal uniforms.
“In Kiambu County, they succeeded in stealing firearms from two police stations. This was terrorism disguised as dissent,” he declared.
The CS also revealed that public offices—including courts and administrative buildings—were looted and torched, while private businesses suffered billions of shillings in losses. Among the affected properties, he said, was one belonging to the Catholic Church in Embu County.
Retail outlets, supermarkets, hotels, and residential homes were not spared either, with some belonging to elected leaders perceived to be pro-government coming under attack. Properties associated with Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah and Molo MP Kimani Kuria were specifically mentioned.
Murkomen maintained that the events were not isolated acts of unrest but part of a wider, well-funded and politically instigated campaign.
To prevent future attacks, he said the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has launched investigations targeting the organisers and financiers of the protests.
“The government will pursue justice relentlessly on behalf of all affected Kenyans,” he stated. “No one will be spared—regardless of political or financial influence.”
