Kenya, July 4 -- Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has spoken out in support of Kenya's young protesters, saying they were not the ones who set police stations on fire or stole from the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) during the protests on June 25, 2025.
Speaking in Nakuru County on July 3, 2025, Kagwe condemned the stealing and destruction of over 7,354 bags of fertilizer, worth Ksh29.5 million, from the NCPB depot in Maua, Meru County. He said these bad actions were done by "external actors" who took advantage of the peaceful protests.
This view is different from that of Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, who called the protests a danger to national security and suggested that young people were involved in the violence.
The protests on June 25 marked one year since the 2024 protests against a finance law and started as a movement by youth against police violence and poor government. However, they turned violent in many areas.
Reports say at least eight people were killed, mostly from gunshots, and 61 people were arrested across 26 counties, including Nairobi, Mombasa, and Meru. Businesses like Naivas Supermarket in Nyeri and a Bata store in Nairobi were looted, and 29 government vehicles were set on fire in Nyandarua.
Kagwe stressed that the violence, especially the attack on the NCPB depot, threatens Kenya's food supply by taking away important resources from farmers during planting season.
He said, "This is not just a crime; it's an attack on our ability to feed our nation." He called on Kenyans to support their democratic rights but not to cause chaos, noting that criminals were misusing protests to create disorder.
"Don't be misled into thinking that it's your children. The Gen-Z demonstrators are not responsible for these actions," Kagwe said, asking the police to catch the real offenders and retrieve the stolen items.
While the protests started peacefully, there were reports of police using live ammunition, tear gas, and water cannons. Amnesty Kenya reported 16 deaths, mostly due to police gunfire.
A government ban on live TV coverage of the events, which was later overturned by the High Court, added to feelings of unrest under President William Ruto's leadership.
Kagwe's views are different from Murkomen's, who tried to link the looting to Gen Z by pointing out identity cards left at a Quickmart supermarket.
This disagreement shows the tensions within Ruto's government as it faces public anger over corruption, economic problems, and kidnappings.
As Kenya goes through these difficult times, Kagwe's call for responsibility and calm highlights the need to balance protecting democratic rights and maintaining order.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Bana Kenya.