Deputy President Kithure Kindiki addressing Women groups at Kambu. Photo Courtesy. 
By Andrew Mbuva
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has accused a section of religious leaders and foreign ambassadors of playing a role in inciting the youth to engage in violent acts during Thursday’s nationwide protests.
Speaking in Kambu, Makueni County, during a women empowerment funds drive, Kindiki commended religious institutions that encouraged peaceful demonstrations. However, he sharply criticized others whom he claimed misled the youth by suggesting they had the liberty to act without restraint.
“I want to thank the churches and religious organizations that advised young people to exercise their freedoms peacefully. But there was another group that incited the youth by telling them they had the freedom to do whatever they wanted,” Kindiki said.
The Deputy President expressed deep disappointment over the chaos witnessed during the protests, questioning whether some church leaders were endorsing lawlessness.
“Is stealing property, beating innocent people, burning police stations and courtrooms, and even raping women the kind of freedom they were advocating for?” he asked.
Kindiki also called out certain foreign ambassadors, accusing them of undermining law enforcement by allegedly urging protesters to act with impunity.
“There were ambassadors from friendly nations telling the youth to do whatever they wanted and that no police officer should arrest them. Now public resources will be used to rebuild facilities like police stations and courts that were burned. Is that really what they wanted?” he posed.
He likened the scale of destruction to the 2007 post-election violence, noting that such chaos has not been witnessed in the country in over a decade.
“I want to assure Kenyans, on behalf of President William Ruto, that we will not allow Kenya to descend into anarchy. A country that burns courtrooms, robs innocent businessmen, and violates its women has lost its way — and we will not let that happen,” Kindiki declared.
Accompanying MPs echoed his sentiments, blaming some politicians for allegedly sponsoring the protests.
“What we saw yesterday was not peaceful picketing as provided for in the Constitution. These are not spontaneous protests; this is organized crime,” said Mwala MP Vincent Musyoka.
Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse, whose hotel was reportedly attacked, likened the perpetrators to “madmen.”
“The English taught us never to argue with a madman, because people may not tell the difference. So I won’t waste time responding to those destroying other people’s property,” Mutuse remarked.
The government has vowed to take decisive action to prevent a repeat of the violence and ensure public order is maintained going forward.
