Havi: Police allowed looters to run wild during Gen Z protests
Prominent Kenyan lawyer and former Law Society of Kenya President Nelson Havi has sparked public debate with sharp criticism of the police, accusing them of failing to stop looters during recent protests while unleashing excessive force on peaceful demonstrators.
His comments come as tensions continue to rise across the country following deadly demonstrations and growing criticism of how the government is handling the unrest.
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“I have not seen a single photo or video of police stopping looters or even shooting one,” Havi posted on X on June 27, 2025. “But I have seen many images and clips of police beating and shooting unarmed peaceful protestors. Let Kipchumba Murkomen not fool people.”
Havi was reacting to remarks by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, who on June 26 accused protesters of trying to overthrow the government.
In a press briefing, Murkomen claimed the protests amounted to an attempted coup, saying police were forced to block demonstrators from storming Parliament and the State House.
Deadly protests spark public outrage
The Interior Ministry said at least 10 people were killed during the protests.
The rights group Amnesty Kenya said at least 16 people were killed, all by gunshots.
The protests were initially organised to mark the anniversary of last year’s anti-tax protests, in which over 60 people were killed.
This year’s demonstrations gained momentum following the death of blogger Albert Ojwang, 31, while in police custody.
He had been jailed after a complaint by Deputy National Police Chief Eliud Lagat. Footage from the protests shows police using tear gas, batons and even live bullets on unarmed crowds, sparking concern from human rights organisations.
In central Nairobi, smoke could be seen rising on Wednesday evening from teargas and burnt shops.
Thugs stole property worth millions, with electronics shops mostly targeted. Business owners in Nairobi’s central business district expressed anger over the lack of protection.
Author
Kenneth Mwenda
Kenneth Mwenda is a digital writer with over five years of experience. He graduated in February 2022 with a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from The Co-operative University of Kenya. He has written news and feature stories for platforms such as Construction Review Online, Sports Brief, Briefly News, and Criptonizando. In 2023, he completed a course in Digital Investigation Techniques with AFP. He joined K24 Digital in May 2025. For inquiries, he can be reached at [email protected].
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