Cabinet approves actions against officers involved in extra-judicial activities during protests

The Cabinet on Thursday approved that action be taken against officers who were caught engaging in extra-judicial activities' during the ongoing wave of protests across the country.

"On any officers who may have acted outside the confines of the law, the Cabinet said they will be dealt with in accordance with legal procedure and by the institutions mandated to do so," a brief shared with newsrooms after the meeting stated.

The Cabinet 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.

The decisions were made after the Cabinet was briefed on the security situation in the country following days of riots.

The meeting chaired by President William Ruto at State House Nairobi happened as Nairobians waited to see if another round of protests would resume today. However, they failed to start with many parts of the City reporting normal business and calm as people embarked on their daily activities.

"The meeting was informed that though the riots started as a protest against the tax measures proposed in the Finance Bill 2024, they were infiltrated, hijacked and taken over by criminal and opportunistic political forces," the brief added.

The Cabinet was informed that the two groups have in the past two weeks reigned terror on the people of Kenya in the cities, towns and other urban areas, causing loss of life, and destruction of National and County governments' buildings, infrastructure, vehicles, homes and businesses.

The Cabinet was further informed that the security agencies have stabilised the situation and continue to monitor the developments.

The 22-member team was also informed that due to the threat posed to Parliament, the Supreme Court and other infrastructure, all national security agencies, including the military, were deployed to maintain law and order.

The members noted that security agencies did a good job protecting the country from anarchists.

Following the withdrawal of the Finance Bill, 2024, President Ruto said the National Treasury is reorganising the budget to include a substantial cutting down of budgets to "balance between what to be implemented and what can wait", and ensure that key national programmes are not affected.

The President said 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.

"Our plan is good and solid and, in the fullness of time, we shall be vindicated," President Ruto said.

Other agenda that came up at the meeting included the implementation of the Kenya Urban Improvement Project in the Nairobi Metropolitan Area, including 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 brief said.

The project will also include the acquisition of new locomotives and the improvement of non-motorised transport infrastructure, and feeder roads along the Nairobi Commuter Rail network.

At the same time, the Cabinet approved the Kenya Secondary Education Equity and Quality Improvement Programme, the Kenya-United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and the co-hosting of the Second Edition of the African Continental Free Trade Area Youth Symposium on September 5-7, 2024.

Others are the Public Finance Management (Amendment) Bill 2024 and the ratification of Bilateral Air Services Agreements between Kenya and various countries, including Somalia, Morocco, Algeria, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Guinea, the United Kingdom and South Korea.