Hotspot deployments as security chiefs brace for June 25 markings

Senior police commanders across various regions have been holding a series of meetings to plan how to manage the anniversary of anticipated protests marking two years since the 2024 Gen Z protests over the Finance Bill.

Although officials have said they do not expect large-scale protests, different units have met over the past week to plan the way forward.

At the General Service Unit headquarters, new Commandant Johana Tonui met commanders who are expected to be deployed to areas identified as security hotspots for operational purposes.

The identified hotspots include Nairobi and parts of Central Kenya, Machakos, Kajiado, Eldoret and Kitale. Tonui instructed officers to maintain professionalism when handling public demonstrations.

Anti-riot teams from the GSU are set to be deployed to targeted locations ahead of Thursday’s operations.

In Nairobi, some areas, including Parliament Square, may be restricted to authorised personnel. The move is aimed at preventing access by individuals planning to lay flowers at the site during the commemorative period.

Parliament was a site of unrest in 2024 when protesters breached the precinct shortly after Members of Parliament passed the Finance Bill.

More than 200 people were reported killed during the protests. Dozens of others died last year during events marking the first anniversary.

The Inspector-General of the National Police Service, Douglas Kanja, also summoned commanders to discuss the rising presence of criminal gangs in the country.

The gangs have recently been reported to harass residents and are allegedly linked to some politicians.

Speaking during a high-level security summit at the National Police Leadership Academy, Kanja directed commanders to adopt efficient and adaptive policing strategies that maximise available resources to maintain law and order for all Kenyans, residents and visitors.

He issued a firm warning over the resurgence of criminal gangs, adopting a zero-tolerance stance on any laxity in police operations.

Kanja reaffirmed the National Police Service’s commitment to public safety, enforcement of the law, and the creation of a secure environment necessary for social and economic stability.

The summit brought together senior leadership from the Kenya Police Service, Administration Police Service and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to review the country’s security situation, assess emerging crime trends and develop strategic interventions aimed at strengthening the national security framework.

He was accompanied by Deputy Inspector-General of the Kenya Police Service Eliud Lagat, Deputy Inspector-General of the Administration Police Service Gilbert Masengeli and Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin.

Kanja commended senior officers for their efforts in addressing evolving security threats and called for sustained vigilance and professionalism in service delivery.

Discussions focused on a range of security concerns, including the rise of criminal gangs, goonism, money laundering, cyber-enabled crime and other emerging threats that could undermine public safety, economic stability and national security.

Commanders also examined intelligence handling, inter-agency cooperation and the need for disciplined, intelligence-led investigations capable of responding to increasingly complex criminal networks.

As part of the engagement, they presented security assessments from their areas of jurisdiction, highlighting prevailing and emerging threats, operational gaps, ongoing interventions and key challenges affecting service delivery.

They also tabled operational plans and response frameworks aimed at strengthening prevention, detection and disruption of criminal activity.

Service commanders later held separate meetings to further refine operational details on the ground.

Each commander outlined their local scenarios and possible outcomes, reviewed the security environment, assessed evolving criminal threats and aligned priorities with the national security agenda.