Charles Owino, the former police spokesperson and current head of the National Government Communication Centre, says Kenyan police will no longer engage armed protesters. If demonstrations turn violent, he says, the military will take over.
“Moving forward, if there are peaceful demonstrations, the police will come out to support them,” Owino said during a live interview on Citizen TV. “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.”
His remarks came in the wake of widespread Gen Z-led protests across Kenya, fuelled by growing opposition to the controversial Finance Bill 2024. Demonstrations, which began peacefully, have in some places turned chaotic. In Nairobi and other cities, property was looted and clashes broke out between police and protesters. Banks, supermarkets and shops were targeted in the downtown area of the capital.
Owino did not mince words. “If people are armed and there is a threat to national security, then it becomes a different ball game,” he said.
The protests have swept through at least 25 counties, uniting young people in an online-driven movement that is demanding economic justice, transparency, and government accountability. However, images of teargas, live bullets, and arrests have stirred national outrage, especially as some demonstrators have reportedly been killed or injured.
Human rights groups and security analysts have voiced concern over Owino’s comments, warning that deploying the military to control civilians could spark deeper unrest and potentially breach constitutional limits.
Kenya’s Constitution allows military deployment only under strict conditions and with parliamentary oversight. Critics argue that any overreach could trigger both legal and moral crises, especially if soldiers confront unarmed citizens.
Still, Owino maintains there’s a clear boundary: “Peaceful assembly is a right. Armed riots are not,” he said.
