Former Prime Minister and ODM Leader Raila Odinga has condemned the escalation of violence and criminal activities during the recent protests that started as peaceful demonstrations by young Kenyans.
In a press release issued today, Odinga highlighted the degeneration of initially peaceful protests into chaos, looting, and destruction of property.
“What started as an expression of disaffection with the government by young Kenyans through peaceful protests and presentation of petitions to authorities degenerated into chaos and mayhem yesterday,” Odinga stated. He emphasized that the original protestors, primarily from Gen Z, were not responsible for the violent turn of events.
Odinga’s statement pointed out that individuals not part of the original protest movement hijacked the demonstrations, leading to widespread looting, vandalizing of property, and attacks on innocent people. There have also been disturbing reports of harassment and sexual violence in some areas.
“There are reports of innocent women being harassed and raped in some parts of the country. The scenes of people looting, vandalizing, and robbing were way different from what was witnessed at the start of the protests when the Gen Z were in complete control of the process and its programs,” he added.
Odinga also reiterated his stance against police brutality towards peaceful protestors and called for accountability from security officers. “We have had occasion to condemn police brutality on peaceful protestors and we continue to demand civility and accountability from security officers during protests,” he noted.
Expressing deep sympathy for those affected, Odinga condemned the actions of criminals who have exploited the protests for their own gain. “I extend deep sympathy to the families who’ve suffered in the hands of looters posing as Gen Z protestors, innocent people who’ve seen their business premises broken into, their products looted, and who now face the reality of being worse off than before the protests,” he said.
He called on the youth to continue striving for peaceful and civil demonstrations to achieve their goals. “The young people who started the protests were out to correct the injustices in the country and in the process educate all of us that protests can be peaceful, civil and still achieve the intended goals,” Odinga stated.
Odinga concluded by urging an end to the violence and criminal behavior, stressing that such actions betray the youth’s efforts. “For thugs to hijack the protests and turn them into mayhem against innocent Kenyans amounts to a double betrayal of the youth. The bad manners have to be stopped,” he asserted.
