“Wednesday Protests Were a Cover for a Coup Attempt,” Says CS Murkomen

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has characterized the nationwide June 25 protests—not as peaceful demonstrations, but as a coup attempt aimed at overthrowing Kenya’s government. According to his briefing at Harambee House, what appeared as student-led protests was, in fact, an “orchestrated” effort to seize national power

Key Claims by CS Murkomen

1. Attempted Regime Change
   Murkomen insists the protests were a direct attempt at “regime change” and not mere expressions of free speech. Authorities allege it was politically instigated, funded, and strategically planned
2. Destruction of Infrastructure & Lives
   He reports at least 10 people killed and over 400 injured (including nearly 300 police officers). Protest-related violence included arson at nine police stations, bus burnings, looting, and extensive damage to government assets and businesses
3. Media’s Role Under Scrutiny
   Murkomen accused certain media outlets of overstepping: not just reporting, but allegedly mobilizing participants, broadcasting protest routes in real-time, and encouraging escalation
4. Financial Backing
   He claims that individuals were distributing money from vehicles to protesters, suggesting that the demonstrations were financed—implying political influence and orchestration

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National & International Reactions

• Protesters and Youth Activists reject the coup characterization, accusing the government of deflecting from genuine grievances—such as police brutality and perceived economic injustice .
• Amnesty International–Kenya has documented at least 16 deaths during the unrest, verbalising concerns of excessive force by state actors
• Reuters confirms some government claims—including locations of violence and casualty estimates—while urging independent judicial inquiry

Implications for Democracy and Media

• Shrinking Civic Space:
  Labelling protests as “coup attempts” may set a new precedent for interpreting dissent as criminal—potentially chilling legitimate public discourse.
• Media Freedom at Risk:
  Murkomen’s warning that broadcasters may be shut down over “irresponsible journalism” hearkens back to concerns from the 2007–2008 post-election crackdown
• Judiciary Under Pressure:
  He urged courts to be stringent in granting bail and handling protest-related cases, calling on judges to choose between “law and order or anarchy”

What Comes Next

• Investigations Ongoing:
  Security agencies are tracking alleged financiers and organizers behind the protests. Arrests and legal actions may follow
• Media Oversight:
  The Communications Authority temporarily ordered a live broadcast shutdown, citing national security risks—a measure critics say curtails transparency
• Judicial Scrutiny:
  The courts are expected to review the legitimacy of such restrictions on media and protest space, while rights groups push for accountability on use of force.

CS Murkomen’s assertion that the June 25 protests were a disguised coup attempt has profound implications. It reframes public dissent as a national threat, affects how media operates during unrest, and tests Kenya’s democratic resilience. As investigations continue, the nation watches closely: were these protests a genuine fight for justice, or part of a conspiracy to upend government?

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