KISUMU, Kenya Jun 19 – Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo has assured Kenyans that the government will safeguard the constitutional right to peaceful demonstrations during the planned June 25 protests, while warning that any violent conduct or criminal activity will be dealt with according to the law.
Speaking in Karachuonyo, Homa Bay County, during an event at Oriwo Boys High School, Omollo said security agencies have been instructed to protect both protesters and members of the public who choose not to participate in the demonstrations.
“The Constitution guarantees every Kenyan the right to demonstrate and picket peacefully and unarmed. We will protect those rights, but we will equally protect the rights of those who want to go about their businesses uninterrupted,” he said.
His remarks come ahead of nationwide demonstrations scheduled for June 25, marking the anniversary of victims of the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests.
Omollo cautioned that anyone found carrying weapons or engaging in criminal activity during the protests would face “the full force of the law.”
The PS also addressed rising cases of student unrest in schools, urging parents, community leaders and education stakeholders to take a more active role in preventing school unrest and arson incidents.
He noted that many materials used in such incidents are sourced from outside school compounds, calling for increased vigilance at the community level.
“As parents, chiefs, village elders and citizens, we all have a responsibility to support schools and guide our children,” he said.
On education, Omollo praised the government for prioritising the sector through increased funding and large-scale teacher recruitment, saying about 100,000 teachers have been hired in three years.
He made the remarks during celebrations marking Oriwo Boys High School’s elevation to Cluster One (C1) status, equivalent to a national school. The institution, founded nearly six decades ago, has grown into a major academic centre attracting students from across the country.
