Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has ruled out government compensation for individuals and businesses affected by the widespread looting and destruction during the Wednesday, June 25, protests. Addressing the press, Murkomen stated that there is no budgetary provision to cater for the losses incurred, blaming the chaos on criminal elements allegedly mobilized by political figures.
“Unfortunately, Parliament has not allocated a budget for compensating those whose properties were looted in such situations and we don’t have any allocation as a government to do so,” the CS said. He urged lawmakers to enact legislation that defines compensation structures for protest-related damages and establishes stricter accountability for protest organisers.
“If we were to provide a budget to compensate people all the time whenever properties are looted, then the best law is that protest organisers should bear the greatest responsibility,” Murkomen asserted.
Highlighting Mombasa as a model for peaceful demonstrations, Murkomen stressed the need for regulated protests, with designated venues and timeframes. He argued that such frameworks would ensure both freedom of expression and the protection of public and private property.
Despite the lack of official government support, the CS revealed that individual leaders may offer personal contributions to assist victims who suffered significant losses during the unrest.
Murkomen further blamed the destruction on “goons” allegedly ferried into Nairobi from Murang’a, Nyeri, and Kirinyaga counties. He claimed these individuals caused havoc across the city and along major roads like Thika Road, looting businesses and mugging civilians late into the night.
“The destruction went all the way to midnight. Goons were brought from outside Nairobi, and the police were overwhelmed. These criminals were collected by politicians and left to terrorize the public,” Murkomen claimed.
He estimated the damage caused during the protests to be in the billions of shillings, noting that supermarkets, electronic shops, and restaurants were among the worst-hit establishments.
The protests, part of a broader wave of public dissent, have sparked national debate on the balance between the right to demonstrate and the need to maintain public order and protect livelihoods.
