![One arrested in Nairobi during a protest called by the opposition against the high cost of living in Kenya One](https://www.news360.es/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/fotonoticia_20230330111605_1920-4.jpg)
The Kenyan government has warned that the country is on the verge of »total chaos» and has promised to act to deal with »widespread violence» in recent days, which it blamed on »criminal hordes posing as protesters», in reference to opposition demonstrations.
The Kenyan Minister of the Interior, Kithure Kindiki, has stressed that »the current situation of anarchy and criminal madness must end» and has maintained that »only the firm application of the law» can avoid »total anarchy and chaos» in the African country.
»Any aggravation of the situation would be a step backwards for the country. We must stop the slide», explained the minister, who stressed that »all criminals, irrespective of the political party or group they support, must be neutralized before they destroy Kenya».
Thus, he has stressed in a statement published by the Ministry of Interior through his account on the social network Twitter that the current situation »poses a serious danger to the rule of law and the stability of the country». »Violence, looting, destruction of public property, disruption of daily activities and invasion of private property are a real and imminent danger of our country falling into an irreversible anarchy,» he reiterated.
Kindiki thus recalled that hundreds of people broke into a farm owned by former president Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday, where they cut trees and stole cattle, while others attacked a company linked to the family of former prime minister and opposition leader Raila Odinga.
»No more violent protests will be allowed anywhere in Kenya. With or without notice, demonstrations and protests of any kind that result in injuries and damage to businesses and property must be avoided at all costs,» he has argued.
In this sense, he has criticized the »incitement to violence» and has denounced that the decision of some »political groups» to create »uniforms» is an »illegal» act. »Those who wear these uniforms, dresses or emblems must stop doing so immediately,» the Kenyan Minister of Internal Affairs asserted.
Kindiki also defended that the police »have done everything possible within the framework of the law to protect the lives and properties of non-demonstrators and third parties who have the same rights as the demonstrators», before advancing that he will approve measures to »ensure public safety during demonstrations of any kind».
He has further promised measures to »enhance security for Kenyans and foreigners who are legally in Kenya to ensure that no one is exposed to insecurity», as well as »investigations and accountability for all persons who have committed criminal acts against persons or property against any person during demonstrations».
»All streets and neighborhoods in Nairobi, Kisumu and anywhere else where there are credible indications to believe that violent protests could take place in the future will have constant security to ensure that law abiding people can go about their business without being exposed to intimidation, threats or other disturbances,» he concluded.
A protester was killed during Monday’s crackdown on protests in Kisumu (west) as part of protests called by Odinga, after which the African Union (AU) and the United States appealed for calm. AU Commission chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat called for a dialogue to »address all differences», something he said would be »in line with the supreme interest of national unity and reconciliation».
Odinga has called for mobilizations every Monday and Thursday to protest against the high cost of living and against the government, which he considers illegitimate for considering fraudulent the elections of August 2022, to which he ran with the support of Kenyatta and in which the current president, William Ruto, won.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)