The Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has directed the DCI to expeditiously investigate individuals who destroyed property, stormed Parliament and looted shops in the guise of peaceful anti-Finance Bill protests.

In a statement, DPP Renson Ingonga says that although the Constitution provides Kenyans with the right to assemble, demonstrate, picket and present petitions to public authorities, those rights are not absolute.

“Any person involved in such assembly, demonstration and/or picketing must be peaceful and unarmed,” DPP Ingonga says. “The right does not extend to propaganda or war, incitement to violence, hate speech or advocacy of hatred that constitutes ethnic incitement of others or incitement to cause harm.”

The DPP regretted the loss of lives, destruction of public and private property and other unlawful elements witnessed during anti-Finance Bill protests across the country, particularly on June 25, 2024 when protesters stormed Parliament, destroyed property while burning a section of it. On this day, shops in Nairobi CBD were also massively looted.

Consequently, Ingonga wants the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to forward the resultant enquiry files to his office for perusal and directions.

“These crimes cannot continue unabated. Any individual found culpable will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Ingonga insists.

He has further warned that any acts of violence leading to loss of lives and destruction of critical infrastructure – including Parliament, Judiciary, National and County Gov’ts facilities – will be met with full force of law.

Despite President William Ruto declining to sign the controversial Finance Bill 2024 into law, young Kenyans (Gen Z) are hellbent on going to the streets starting today (Tuesday, July 2) to protest against the general poor governance and their colleagues who were killed by police officers during previous demonstrations.