Former police spokesperson Charles Owino has declared that while the police remain committed to safeguarding peaceful demonstrations, any descent into lawlessness could see the military take control of security operations.
Speaking against the backdrop of intensifying Gen Z-led protests across Kenya, Owino reaffirmed the police’s responsibility to uphold citizens’ right to peaceful assembly. However, he drew a clear line when it came to violent unrest.
“Moving forward, if there are peaceful demonstrations, the police will come out to support them,” Owino said during a Citizen TV interview on June 26.
“But if there’s anarchy, the police will withdraw and let the military take over, because it is not the work of the police to face armed people.”
Owino, who currently serves as the head of the National Government Communication Centre, made the remarks days after nationwide protests erupted in opposition to the Finance Bill 2024.
Mobilised primarily by Gen Z activists through social media, the demonstrations have spread to at least 25 counties.
While the protests initially remained peaceful, several incidents of violence, looting, and confrontations between demonstrators and police have been reported.
In Nairobi’s downtown, some businesses, supermarkets, and ATMs were vandalised and looted, allegedly by hooligans masquerading as protesters during a particularly chaotic day on June 25.
The same day’s protests had been organised to honour victims of last year’s anti-Finance Bill demonstrations, where state security forces were accused of using excessive force against unarmed civilians.
Notably, during the 2024 protests, President William Ruto ordered military deployment to restore calm.
However, videos from that time showed soldiers receiving a warm reception from demonstrators — with protestors cheering, posing for selfies, and sharing moments of solidarity with military personnel, a stark contrast to the brutal policing witnessed earlier.
Owino’s comments reflect mounting concern within security circles over the government’s approach to handling citizen-led protests amid growing demands for accountability and governance reforms.
Security experts have warned that involving the military in managing civilian demonstrations could spark serious constitutional and human rights concerns.
Nonetheless, Owino defended the stance, saying the distinction between peaceful protests and armed lawlessness was unambiguous.
“If people are armed and there is a threat to national security, then it becomes a different ball game,” he stated.
Concerns will also arise as to what differentiates peaceful protesters and goons who take advantage of protests to loot.
Recently, political accusations surfaced over the infiltration of protests by criminal elements.
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino recently claimed that Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja was behind the hiring of goons to infiltrate and sabotage the youth-led protests in the capital.
Speaking in an interview with TNX Africa, Babu Owino alleged that the government was orchestrating covert operations to discredit the demonstrators.
“The government is clearly taking advantage of these protests. The government is hiring goons using Governor Sakaja. He himself, in Uasin Gishu, said clearly that the previous demonstrations caught him unawares and the next protests would find him ready,” the MP charged.
The lawmaker referenced a recent incident where one of the alleged hired goons was apprehended and, when questioned, allegedly implicated the Nairobi governor.
“The goon who was nearly killed was asked to name his sponsor, and he called out the governor’s name. Above all, the goons had protection from security officers. Who can pull such a move if not the government?” Babu posed.
Governor Sakaja has since vehemently denied the allegations, branding them as baseless and politically charged.
In a video posted on his official social media pages, Sakaja responded, “I have never and will never sponsor violence of any kind. My entire political life has been anchored on the rule of law and democratic rights.”
He added, “These accusations are not only false, they are desperate attempts by individuals whose political careers are marked by violence, intimidation, and chaos — people who have gone as far as hiring goons to taint my name.”
