Police won’t confront armed protesters, military will take over — Charles Owino

Former police spokesperson Charles Owino has said the police are ready to support peaceful demonstrations but warned that any descent into anarchy would see security responsibilities shift to the military.

Speaking amid heightened tensions following the nationwide Gen Z-led protests, Owino said law enforcement officers have a clear mandate to protect peaceful assembly, but not to engage in armed confrontations.

“Moving forward, if there are peaceful demonstrations, the police will come out to support them,” Owino said on June 26 during an interview on Citizen TV.

“But if there’s anarchy, the police will withdraw and let the military take over, because it is not the work of the police to face armed people.”

Owino is the head of the national government's communications centre.

His remarks come days after a series of mass protests across major towns that were sparked by public opposition to the Finance Bill 2024, with Gen Z youth at the forefront of organising and mobilising the demonstrations via social media.

The protests, largely peaceful at their onset, have at times been met with force, resulting in deaths and injuries, further inflaming tensions.

Owino’s comments reflect growing concern within security circles over how the state responds to citizen-led protests, especially as calls for accountability and reform continue to escalate.

Security experts have warned that involving the military in civilian matters could raise constitutional and human rights questions.

However, Owino insisted that the line is clear between peaceful protest and lawlessness.

“If people are armed and there is a threat to national security, then it becomes a different ball game,” he said.

The June 25 Gen Z protests are said to have degenerated into anarchy on Wednesday as hooligans looted property, including supermarkets and some ATM banks.

Shops in Nairobi's downtown were looted by a section of people who posed as protesters on a day of heightened chaos as police battled with demonstrators.

There were protests in at least 25 counties across the country.