- Omollo noted that the protests not only left public property damaged, they also led to loss of lives and injuries.
- He said one police officer died during the incidents while 305 sustained serious injuries while controlling the protesters.
Image: FILE
Interior PS Raymond Omollo has revealed, in statistics, the effects of the anti-government demonstrations.
Omollo noted that the protests not only left public property damaged, they also led to loss of lives and injuries.
He said the losses could have been avoided.
"Having taken stock of the aftermath of the riots, we confirm that the country is counting regrettable but avoidable losses," he said.
He said one police officer died during the incidents while 305 sustained serious injuries while controlling the protesters.
"The new trend of negatively profiling, harassing, and attacking security personnel saw a total of 305 law enforcement officers seriously injured and 1 fatality while executing the cardinal responsibility of protecting lives and property," he said on Tuesday.
The PS added that the National Police Service had lost 158 vehicles, adding that nine police stations suffered damages either from getting burnt down or severely damaged by suspected criminals guised as protesters.
Further, the figures say that more than 850 shops and other business premises were also broken into and looted.
He said 199 buildings were destroyed and various public utilities amounting to billions of shillings were vandalized.
The reported number of cases related to assault and violent robberies are 156.
The statement said some non-protesting motorists and pedestrians were attacked and robbed of their belongings by the protesters who blocked 69 roads.
Omollo said investigations into the reports of civilians carrying firearms are underway.
Detectives are also seeking to establish the contribution of these armed civilians to the number of recorded fatalities and injured.
"The massive losses mark an irreplaceable toll that underscores the urgency of taking more decisive actions to avert a repeat of the same anywhere in the Republic of Kenya," PS Omollo said.
He said the ministry is prioritising the restoration of stability, urging the public to address their grievances in line with the law.
"Our prime focus is now on restoring peace and stability through collective efforts, and we call upon all law-abiding citizens to uphold the rule of law and air their grievances through legal means," Omollo said.