Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki has defended the National Police Service (NPS) regarding the deaths of protesters during the June 25, 2024 demonstrations, which saw the invasion of Parliament in Nairobi.
Speaking before the National Assembly Security Committee on Thursday September 26, 2024, Kindiki emphasized that it is unfair to fully blame police officers for the fatalities without concrete evidence.
He stated, drawing on his legal experience, that: “The fact someone was shot doesn’t conclusively prove it was by a police officer.”
Kindiki also suggested that the assumption often unfairly leans towards police accountability in such incidents.
Justification for Use of Force
At the same time, Kindiki justified use of excess force by police officers during the protests, arguing it was essential to safeguard critical national institutions, including Parliament.
He emphasized that failure to act might have led to the collapse of constitutional order, putting the country at risk:
If we hadn’t used force, we’d be talking about a different Kenya today.
Clarification on Death Toll
Addressing reports about the deaths that occurred during the anti-government protests between June and August 2024, Kindiki confirmed the fatalities of 42 Kenyans, disputing higher figures provided by Amnesty International and various human rights groups, which placed the number at 61.
He noted that a report accounting for 30 of the deaths was available, while he requested 24 hours to clarify the details surrounding the remaining 12 cases.
Amnesty International’s Findings
Amnesty International’s report, based on interviews with 23 eyewitnesses and analysis of 45 videos and over 100 photographs, pointed to a death toll of 61.
The report also highlighted 67 cases of enforced disappearances in 2024, with 27 cases remaining unresolved.
Njuri Ncheke elders from Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties have officially endorsed Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki as their preferred representative to President William Ruto’s administration.
The elders made the announcement during a meeting held at their headquarters on Wednesday, September 18, 2024.
The elders noted that the decision to back Kindiki, who hails from Meru and currently serves as the interior CS was based on his strong working relationship with President Ruto. The elders expressed confidence in Kindiki’s ability to serve as the region’s key liaison with the national government.
“As the Njuri Ncheke elders from Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties, we have gathered here at our headquarters to endorse Kithure Kindiki, who works well with our president, William Ruto. Kithure Kindiki is our own son from Meru who is the Cabinet Secretary for Interior. Today, Njuri Ncheke in their numbers have endorsed Kindiki as our kingpin who will be our link to the government. We are asking him to speak to our president to bring us development. Njuri Ncheke has spoken, and once they do, there is no opposition,” one elder stated.
By endorsing Kindiki as the regional kingpin, the elders said they aim to solidify his role as a vital bridge between their communities and the national government, ensuring better representation and development in the region.
Gachagua out, Kindiki in
This endorsement comes just a week after elders from Embu, Meru, and Tharaka Nithi counties severed ties with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua who has for a long time been considered the dominant figure in the larger Mt. Kenya region. They threw their support behind Kindiki as the key link between the Mt. Kenya East region and the national government.
“We support the call for Prof. Kindiki to lead Mt. Kenya East’s engagement in national discussions that will create networks at the national level to move Kenya forward,” they stated.
The elders represented by Cyrus Ngeranwa and Mbiti Ruguongo from Njuri Njeke in Tharaka, expressed concerns over the rising political tensions in the Mt. Kenya region. They believe this unrest is diverting attention from essential development matters.
“While we recognize the president’s efforts to bring growth and prosperity, we are concerned about the rising political tension,” the elders said.
While they acknowledged President William Ruto’s efforts to appoint key leaders from Mt. Kenya East, including three Cabinet Secretaries, they emphasized the importance of focusing on development and unity instead of divisive political debates.
The elders also reiterated their commitment to holding the government accountable for delivering on promises made during the 2022 economic forums, particularly in areas like improving farmers’ livelihoods, addressing youth unemployment, and completing pledged development projects.
The Kisumu Immigration Office stands accused of pervasive corruption, triggering widespread outcry among Kenyan citizens.
Kenya Insights’ investigation reveals a distressing pattern of fraud and bribery involving department officials and security personnel.
Services critical to citizens—such as passport issuance, permits, and citizen services—are marred by extortionate demands, with payments ranging from thousands to hundreds of thousands of Kenyan shillings.
Despite reforms initiated in Nairobi, corruption appears entrenched in Kisumu, facilitated by unqualified appointments and complicit police actions.
Urgent calls for intervention echo, demanding swift action to restore trust and integrity to Kenya’s immigration system.
Unveiling The Widespread Corruption at Kisumu Immigration Office
The Department for Immigration and Citizen Services in Kisumu finds itself embroiled in a scandal of monumental proportions.
There are revelations of rampant corruption spark outrage among Kenyan citizens seeking essential services at the Lakeside station.
Kenya Insights has unearthed a pervasive web of fraud and bribery involving officials at the Kisumu department, colluding with security officers stationed there.
This unholy alliance has severely compromised the delivery of crucial services, including passport issuance, temporary permits, work permits, and citizen services.
Interviews and confessions from affected applicants paint a grim picture of malpractice within this branch of the Ministry of Interior and National Administration.
For instance, officials extort passport and citizen service applicants, demanding anywhere between Ksh 5,000 to Ksh 30,000, depending on their status and urgency.
Meanwhile, they coerce those seeking temporary permits to pay sums ranging from Ksh 10,000 to Ksh 30,000.
Shockingly, individuals applying for work permits and passes face exorbitant demands, often forced to part with staggering amounts between Ksh 50,000 to Ksh 100,000.
Devolved Corruption
Following scrutiny and reforms initiated at the headquarters in Nyayo House, Nairobi, corruption appears to have metastasized to the Kisumu regional office.
Junior staff and Administration Police officers deployed at the station now act as conduits for illicit transactions, allegedly under instructions from higher-ups within the department.
Sources within the department reveal a chilling routine where officers operate with set price tags for each service, remitting their collections on a daily or weekly basis.
They supplement their regular salaries with these ill-gotten gains, creating a perverse incentive structure that normalizes corruption.
Systemic Complicity
The qualifications for personnel seconded to the Kisumu office appear to hinge less on merit and more on nepotism or connections within the Interior Ministry and National Police Service.
Surprisingly, the department often parachutes inexperienced officers lacking field experience into positions to exploit its revenue-generating potential.
Furthermore, reports indicate complicity in criminal activities, including the arbitrary arrest and subsequent release of illegal immigrants for hefty bribes.
Nighttime operations, ostensibly aimed at upholding law and order, have regrettably devolved into lucrative money-making ventures for unscrupulous officers.
Call for Action
Top-level authorities urgently need to intervene in light of these grave revelations.
Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome and Deputy Noor Gabow of the Administration Police must step in decisively to restore integrity and professionalism at the Kisumu Immigration Office.
Failure to act swiftly risks further erosion of public trust and exacerbation of systemic corruption within Kenya’s vital immigration services.
The citizens of Kisumu and indeed all of Kenya deserve better.
Swift and transparent measures must cleanse the tarnished reputation of Kisumu’s Immigration and Citizen Services, ensuring justice and unbiased adherence to the rule of law.
Kennedy Angwen, the proprietor of Mamboleo Distillers in Kisumu County has been dealt a blow after the plant failed to pass the vetting process in the renewed fight against illicit alcohol.
The now suspended firm has been in the news before over allegations of illicit alcohol manufacturing and was partly covered by Kenya Insights, however, Mr. Angwen commands so much power that he has evaded all drug nets in the past years and continued with his controversial trade. He’s said to have oiled well the security machinery in the region that he operates without worries and with ultimate impunity.
KRA officers assaulted
In August 2022 during a raid by Kenya Revenue Authority, officers were assaulted after impounding illicit brews worth millions in Mamboleo, Kisumu East subcounty. The agents were reportedly assaulted by the businessman.
To show the levels of impunity, the KRA agents were alleged to have been attacked by the businessman and goons in the presence of police officers from the Mamboleo police post.
Police officers who were allegedly at the scene of incident where KRA officers were assaulted after impounding illicit brews in Mamboleo.
To demonstrate further how powerful the businessman was, the then Kisumu East subcounty police commander James Musyimi denied knowledge of the incident and brushed it off saying he was engaged elsewhere in post election violence.
Da Place Lounge
The KRA officials sustained injuries and were treated and discharged at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital.
The officers said they were acting on a tip off over the production and ferrying of illicit alcohol in Mamboleo area in Kisumu East subcounty.
One of the officers said the businessman who owns the Mamboleo distiller plant, was producing alcohol illegally despite being closed the previous year (2021) when the license was revoked in April.
They impounded a lorry and a pick-up ferrying 800 and 210 cartons of Shakers Vodka, illicit brew respectively.
The alcohol which were fixed with KRA excise stamps are valued at Sh4 million inclusive of tax evasion.
The alcohol impounded by KRA officials in Kisumu before being forced to release the products on Monday. The alcohol were reportedly fixed with fake KRA excise stamps.
The officers claimed police officers sided with the businessman. They were shocked that they could be assaulted and obstructed in the line of duty without any action by the present officers. They were forced to release the impounded alcohol. That’s how powerful the business was.
Ken also owns Da Place Club in Kisumu which hosts the popular Kikao Show. There have also been accusations that the club is supplied with same questionable merchandise. Some customers have lodged intoxication complaints against the club.
Kindiki wrath
Following a multi-agency vetting process of second-generation alcohol manufacturers and distillers across the country, championed by the Ministry of Interior, Mamboleo Distillers is amongst the 24 companies that have failed to meet the threshold and remain suspended.
Worse still is that the plant is in the residential area and surrounded with schools.
In a communique, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, the licenses and permits of twenty-four (24) other entities remain suspended until they are fully compliant.
They have been given 21 days effective April 8, to ensure they meet all the set regulations, “failure to which the licenses, permits, and authorizations shall stand revoked.”
[pdf-embedder url=”https://cms.kenyainsights.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PUBLIC-COMMUNICATION-ON-OUTCOME-OF-THE-VETTING-OF-MANUFACTURERS-AND-DISTILLERS-OF-2ND-GENRATION-ALCOHOL-1.pdf” title=”PUBLIC COMMUNICATION ON OUTCOME OF THE VETTING OF MANUFACTURERS AND DISTILLERS OF 2ND GENRATION ALCOHOL-1″]
On March 6, Kindiki announced a 25-point enforcement program meant to suppress the manufacture, sale, distribution, and consumption of illegal alcohol and narcotics in the country.
Kenya has rejected a push by the United States of America (USA) to allow the operations of cryptocurrency project WorldCoin to resume in the country.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki told MPs that the US government has been pressuring the Kenyan government to lift the suspension it imposed in August 2023 on the activities of WorldCoin.
Appearing before MPs, Kindiki however clarified the government will not lift the suspension until all the data protection laws are adhered to
He said: “The United States has been pushing the government on the issues of WorldCoin, but we have remained adamant and firm.”
He added: “They (US) think that they (WorldCoin) still have a case to set up their activities here. We have remained adamant and the decision we took will remain. We are not going to review the suspension. The status quo remains as is.”
Appearing before the Public Petitions Committee, Kindiki said that the government will ensure Kenyans are protected from issues touching on cybercrime.
Interpol intervention
The sentiments by Kindiki come hardly months after he revealed that the government had sought the intervention of Interpol to crack down on those behind Worldcoin activities after it emerged that there is a direct link between the activities of cryptocurrency to funding money laundering, and financing of terrorism.
Kindiki, speaking in September last year, explained that the owners of WorldCoin started operating in Kenya under the guise that they were offering educational programmes on cryptocurrency.
He explained it was not until the end of July 2022 when it emerged that the two US companies behind WorldCoin were engaged in the business of collecting sensitive biometric data from Kenyans by scanning their Irises in exchange for cryptocurrency inducement equivalent to Sh7,000 per individual.
Citizens detained
However, he clarified the government released Worldcoin American citizens who had initially been detained after the US government intervened and promised the Kenyan government of their availability whenever they are needed.
Following the move, he announced that he had suspended all WorldCoin activities until concerned government agencies ascertain that the app is free of any risks.
He said. “The Government has suspended forthwith activities of WorldCoin and any other entity that may be similarly engaging Kenyans until relevant public agencies certify the absence of any risks to the general public whatsoever.”
He added: “Appropriate action will be taken on any natural or juristic person who furthers, aids, abets or otherwise engages in or is connected with the activities afore described.”
At the time the Capital Markets Authority had also cautioned the public, saying World coin is not regulated in Kenya.
“WorldCoin related products including crypto tokens and their derivatives are not investment products within the scope of the Capital Markets Authority and hence not the regulatory purview of CMA,” the regulator said.
The WorldCoin project gave each signup a digital ID that, according to the idea, will assist online users identify between real people and Artificial Intelligence (AI) programmes.
According to the creator, eye-scanning will be essential in a future where it will be harder to tell humans from robots as a result of an increase in AI technology.
The project was suspended just days after the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner issued a warning against it, advising Kenyans to exercise greater caution and make sure they are properly informed prior to revealing any personal or sensitive information.
Londiani Tragedy: Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has directed the erection of speed bumps at the Londiani Junction in Kericho County to curb road accidents.
The measure comes after a tragedy that claimed the lives of at least 51 people and left 32 others hospitalized.
Speaking after visiting the scene on Saturday, CS Murkomen stated that the government would support the families of the accident victims.
In the accident, which occurred at 6:30 pm, a truck heading to Kericho allegedly lost control and ran over pedestrians, business people, and parked matatus along the Nakuru-Kericho highway. Eyewitness reports indicate that the trailer veered off the road and collided with numerous hawkers.
Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruyiot, who also visited the scene, called for the commissioning of Londiani Sub-County Hospital due to the lack of adequate health facilities. He highlighted that existing facilities in Kericho were overwhelmed as accident victims were rushed to multiple hospitals.
In response, Kericho Governor Erick Mutai announced the enforcement of a 50 km per hour speed limit in the affected section. He assured the affected families that the government would cover the hospital and postmortem bills and provide further support during their time of grieving.
Kidero’s car that was also involved in the Londiani accident, he wasn’t onboard at the time but his driver and bodyguard survived with minor injuries. pic.twitter.com/A5AkaGLltO
The governor also appealed for blood donations to assist those in hospital and mentioned plans for a harambee to ensure a dignified send-off for the deceased without burdening their families.
Earlier, Interior CS Prof Kithure Kindiki expressed his condolences to the accident victims and urged road users to strictly adhere to traffic rules. He specifically called on drivers to exercise caution, avoid speeding, overloading, and dangerous driving.
Prof Kindiki also directed traffic officers to enforce road safety measures vigorously to prevent similar incidents. He emphasized the apprehension of offenders violating traffic rules, including those driving defective and unroadworthy vehicles, throughout the country.
