One law enforcer was killed and 305 injured during the countrywide Azimio demonstrations, Interior Permanent Secretary Dr Raymond Omollo has announced on Tuesday 25th July, 2023
The PS at the same time said 158 vehicles were vandalised and nine police stations torched in the demonstrations that began on March 2023
Omollo noted that the trend of negatively profiling, harassing and attacking security officers saw a total of 305 law enforcement officers seriously injured and one fatality
“While extending the cardinal responsibility of protecting lives and property. The National Police Service also lost 158 vehicles and 9 police stations which were either burnt down or severely damaged by criminals masquerading as protesters,” PS said in a statement
Dr Omollo said the officers died while in line of duty adding that investigations have been launched to establish whether civilians were carrying firearms or not
“We will probe the extent in which civilians might have contributed to the injuries and fatalities,” He added
He revealed that various public utilities worth billions of shillings were vandalised as more than 850 shops and other business premises were broken into and looted
The demonstrations also saw the destructions of 99 buildings
The massive losses mark an irreplaceable toll that underscores the agency of taking more decisive actions to avert a repeat of the same anywhere in the country
The PS further said that a total of 156 cases of assault and violent robberies were reported
“At the same time, several non protesting motorists and pedestrians were attacked and robbed of their belongings by the rioters and about 69 roads were blocked during demonstrations,” The statement concluded