Tigania West MP links violent protests to poverty
Tigania West Member of Parliament (MP) John Mutunga has attributed the recent surge in violent protests across Kenya to the escalating poverty that continues to afflict many citizens.
He warned that while the right to protest is a vital democratic freedom, it must be exercised responsibly and within limits to safeguard public order.
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Speaking on the root causes of the unrest on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, Mutunga explained that Kenya has a long history of protests, including strikes by teachers and nurses, which rarely resulted in deaths.
However, recent demonstrations have been marked by unprecedented violence and bloodshed, which he linked directly to a failure in development policies that neglected the livelihoods of ordinary Kenyans.
“The real issue is rising poverty, which fuels violent demonstrations. This stems from a development process that failed to prioritise livelihoods,” Mutunga said, emphasising that economic hardship breeds frustration that can easily erupt into violence when people feel ignored or left behind.
He noted that while protests are a constitutional right under Article 37, which guarantees the freedom to demonstrate peacefully, the violent outbreaks reflect a breach of these provisions.
“The reason why we have bloodshed in recent protests is the negation of Article 37 of the Constitution. Picketing was put in the Constitution basically to try and manage the demonstrations,” he explained.
Before these constitutional safeguards were enacted, protests often escalated into chaos, including looting and destruction of property, sometimes leading to loss of life.
Mutunga warned that without proper regulation and public responsibility, Kenya risks turning such incidents into a regular occurrence marked by destructive behaviour.
“Even before, there used to be deaths, as people still used to break into businesses and loot,” he said.
Ruto’s job creation
Despite these challenges, Mutunga lauded President William Ruto’s administration for deliberately focusing on job creation as a long-term solution to Kenya’s economic woes.
He singled out the president’s ambitious housing project as an example of a formal approach designed to empower Kenyans by creating employment opportunities and improving living standards.
“President Ruto is the only leader who has deliberately focused on job creation; his housing project is one example of a formal approach to empowering Kenyans,” the MP said.
He also called for better conditioning of Article 37 to ensure demonstrations remain peaceful and constructive.
“Although provisions of Article 37 are clear, they need to be conditioned,” he said.
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Steve Ireri
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