One Officer Killed As 305 Injured During Azimio Protests Gov’t says

The recent antigovernmental protests staged by the Azimio coalition in different parts of Kenya have taken a violent turn, resulting in the loss of lives, injuries, and significant damage to property.

According to a statement released by the Interior Ministry, one police officer was killed while 305 others were seriously injured during the three-day demonstrations that occurred between Wednesday, July 19, and Friday, July 21.

Interior Principal Secretary, Dr. Raymond Omollo, expressed deep concern over the confrontational nature of the protestors, which led to the destruction of nine police stations.

“The National Police Service also lost 158 vehicles, which were either burnt down or severely damaged by criminals masquerading as protesters,” said Dr. Omollo.

The violence during the protests escalated dramatically, resulting in the destruction of over 850 shops and 199 buildings, causing losses amounting to billions of shillings. The rioters also vandalized various public utilities, further adding to the damage.

Dr. Omollo revealed, “Police stations across the country reported a total of 156 cases of assault and violent robberies, affecting both law enforcement officers and civilians.

Several non-protesting motorists and pedestrians fell victim to attacks and had their belongings stolen as the rioters blocked 69 roads during the demonstrations.”

The situation took a more ominous turn with intelligence reports confirming that some of the protestors were brandishing firearms.

The ministry stated that detectives are actively investigating these reports to determine the extent of their contribution to the injuries and fatalities recorded during the riots.

“These losses are irreplaceable and underscore the urgency of taking decisive actions to prevent a repeat of such events anywhere in the Republic of Kenya,” stressed Dr. Omollo.

Despite the chaos, the government assured the public that normalcy has been restored, and their focus is now on restoring peace and stability through collective efforts.

Read also: Azimio: Protests To Resume Next Wednesday

Dr. Omollo called upon all law-abiding citizens to uphold the rule of law and voice their grievances through legal means, avoiding any further escalation of violence.

“The riots not only endangered lives and property but also posed a significant challenge to the fundamental principles of democracy and social cohesion on which our nation is built,” added Dr. Omollo.

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