Government to charge illegal protestors with terrorism

Interior cabinet secretary Kipvhumba Murkomen. [File, Standard]

The government has maintained that it will charge people involved in illegal protests with acts of terrorism despite protests by human rights groups over the charges.

Interior cabinet secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said that the charges will still remain to avoid such illegal protests.

"We will not allow people's property to be destroyed. Any illegal protests will not be allowed, and that is why we are installing tough charges. We will not bow down on this course, " he noted.

Murkomen was speaking in Ol Kalou town in Nyandarua county during the Jukwaa la Usalama function. He noted that those interested in participating in protests must inform the police in advance.

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While commenting on the homecoming of former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, Murkomen assured security for those willing to welcome him.

"As long as they do not violate the law, we will offer them security. But they should ensure that the properties are protected, " he noted.

He further noted that the government was committed to making sure that the lives and property of the people were protected, especially in the wake of increasing cases of cattle rustling in Nyandarua county.

"This is a new phenomenon that we are experiencing in Nyandarua County. We must deal with this crime once and for all," he noted.

This comes a month after residents burnt down the Ndunyu Njeru police station, protesting the rising cases of cattle theft.

He also promised to deal with the rising cases of femicide in the region.

Nyandarua governor Kiarie Badilisha, who accompanied him, hailed the move to deal with cattle rustling in the region.

"Issues of cattle theft have been a thorn in the flesh in this region. We thank the government for the promise to deal with this menace," he noted.