President William Ruto on Thursday, July 4 chaired a cabinet meeting at State House Nairobi over the security situation in the country following days of riots.
In a statement, State House said that the Cabinet was informed that the riots started as a protest against the tax measures proposed in the Finance Bill 2024 but were infiltrated, hijacked, and taken over by criminal and opportunistic political forces.
“The two groups have in the past two weeks reigned terror on the people of Kenya in the cities, towns and other urban areas, occassioning loss of life, destruction of National and County governments’ buildings, infrastructure, vehicles, homes and businesses,” read the statement in part.
The Cabinet was also informed on the deployment of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to help the National Police Service (NPS) due to the threat posed to Parliament, the Supreme Court, and other infrastructure.
Cabinet members commended security officers stating that they on the whole acted professionally in very difficult circumstances.
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“The members commended security officers, pointing out that they on the whole acted professionally in very difficult circumstances. The Cabinet also noted that security agencies did a good job of protecting the country from anarchists,” State House stated.
The Cabinet said that any officer who may have acted outside the confines of the law be dealt with in accordance with legal procedure and by the institutions mandated to do so.
The top decision-making organ also called for action against those who have committed heinous crimes of arson, looting, and robbery, among others, saying such atrocities must not go unpunished.
Meanwhile, President Ruto pointed out that the government must now focus on charting a new future for the country, pointing out that significant changes must be made to align with that new future.
The Head of State told the Cabinet that the National Treasury was reorganizing the budget to accommodate the new reality following the rejection of the Finance Bill 2024.
“Our plan is good and solid and, in the fullness of time, we shall be vindicated,” President Ruto said.
At the same time, the Cabinet discussed the implementation of the Kenya Urban Improvement Project in the Nairobi Metropolitan Area which includes the phased-out upgrade of the 163km Nairobi Commuter Rail.
The first phase of the upgrade will comprise improving the 58km commuter rail between the Nairobi Central Railway Station and Thika.
The project will also include the acquisition of new locomotives and the improvement of non-motorized transport infrastructure, and feeder roads along the Nairobi Commuter Rail network.
