"Stay Away from Protected Areas' Amid Ongoing Anti-Government Protests", IG Kanja Warns

Acting Police Inspector General Douglas Kanja Kirocho cautioned against any attempts to breach gazetted protected areas during the ongoing anti-government demonstrations. Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, IG Kanja highlighted that intelligence reports have revealed that criminal elements hijack the protests.

"Based on credible intelligence, the current protests have become a haven for goons, motivated and opportunistic offenders who plan to loot and destroy the property of hardworking Kenyans," Kanja stated.

This warning comes in the wake of escalating calls from Kenyan youth to occupy the country’s premier airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), in a protest against President William Ruto’s administration.

"The service reiterates that protected areas are out of bounds as indicated in the Protected Areas Act," IG Kanja emphasized.

The police chief stressed that all designated protected areas, including the LPG and Bitumen plants, petroleum depots at the Embakasi Aviation Depot, and JKIA, are strictly off-limits to unauthorized personnel. He further reminded the public of the legal implications of trespassing on government aerodrome lands under the Kenya Civil Aviation Act.

"Haitakubalika kuingia kwa kiwanja ya ndege kama huna ruhusa, hiyo haitakubalika," Kanja asserted in Kiswahili.

"Nataka nikumbushe wakenya ya kwamba hatuna nchi ingine, ni Kenya tu na tuko na jukumu ya kuhakikisha kwamba nchi yetu iko na amani na iko sawa sawa," he added, urging Kenyans to maintain peace and protect the nation's integrity.

The protests, which have persisted since President Ruto introduced the contentious Finance Bill, 2024, late last month, have seen demonstrators calling for a complete government overhaul and even demanding the President's resignation.

Protesters have been rallying online for a Tuesday march to JKIA, dubbed 'OccupyJKIA', following previous editions of 'OccupyParliament' and the 'OccupyCBD' marches in Nairobi's city center. As the situation remains tense, the authorities are on high alert to prevent any breach of security in protected areas.