MP Kuria Kimani wants DCI to set free youths who raided his home

When Molo MP and National Assembly's Finance Committee Kimani Kuria urged Gen Zs to read and understand the details of Finance Bill 2024 on June 24, 2024. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Molo MP Kuria Kimani now wants the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to drop charges against 17 youths who raided his home and destroyed property valued at more than Sh16 million.

Kuria was a victim of the Gen Z protests on June 25, 2024, when youths raided his Molo home and extensively damaged, stole, and set ablaze some of his property.

Days later, police arrested 17 suspects, majority of them under the age of 25 and some of the stolen goods were recovered.

The suspects were arraigned in Nakuru Law Courts before Magistrate Benard Kipyegon where they pleaded not guilty and were released on bail.

Speaking in Elburgon over the weekend, Kuria who also chairs the National Assembly Finance Committee said that he had forgiven the suspects and wants the criminal charges against them dropped.

"There are people who have caused me huge losses recently. I have forgiven them. I have asked the DCI to withdraw all charges against them and free them to resume their normal work," he said.

Property damaged included three vehicles, the mansion while thousands of chicken were set on fire and several heads of cattle stolen.

Kuria, however, warned the youth against such actions saying that they were not beneficial to anyone.

"Why did you people burn my chicken? That was inhuman. My people, you would have rather taken and eaten them. But we have to agree on this, making a mistake is okay but repeating the same is unforgivable," he said.

The MP appealed to Kenyans to give the President a chance to deliver his promises terming the new Cabinet a new chapter for the Kenya Kwanza administration.

"Our President is committed to serving Kenyans to the best of his abilities. All he needs is support and cooperation from all of us going forward," said Kuria.

The sentiments were echoed by local community leaders who urged the youth to cease the nationwide protests saying their grievances will be addressed.

"The Constitution guarantees the right to demonstrate and picket and Gen Z exercised them well, unfortunately the course was taken over by goons and Gen Z should defend their genuineness by keeping off such violent protests and looting," said Charles Kiragu, a community leader.

Kiragu further called on the youth to ensure they engage in structured dialogue with the elected leaders to ensure their concerns are registered with the government.

"The Gen Z's have portrayed themselves as leaderless. As such, existing leadership structures should now be used to ensure their views are taken to the relevant offices," he said.

Peter Tena who chaired IDP groups in the county urged the youth to respect the law even as they engage the government through the protests.

"The President has already shown his recognition that the Gen Z demands are genuine. He has already acted on most of them. Let us now allow him time to place the government on the right path," said Tena.

He, however, challenged the President to ensure that the youth get government jobs saying that unemployment was a major cause of unrest.