Kenya’s Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen has described the mass anti-government protests that swept across the country on Wednesday as a "coup attempt" aimed at toppling the government under the guise of dissent. At least 10 people were killed and more than 400 were injured, including nearly 300 police officers.

Murkomen praised security agencies for their “remarkable restraint amid extreme provocation,” stating that their efforts had “foiled an attempted coup.” He dismissed accusations of police brutality and denied the use of excessive force, framing the unrest as a deliberate assault on state institutions.

Violence Targets Government Infrastructure

The protests, marking the anniversary of 2024’s deadly anti-tax demonstrations, turned violent as nine police stations were attacked, five of them torched, and five firearms stolen. Dozens of vehicles—government, police, and civilian—were destroyed. Murkomen alleged that the protests involved widespread looting, sexual violence, and destruction, calling the participants “criminal anarchists.”

Investigations are underway into the casualties and full extent of the damage. The government has so far framed the unrest as orchestrated violence rather than legitimate political opposition.

Public Anger Against Ruto Government

The protests saw thousands mobilized across Kenyan cities, with demonstrators chanting "Ruto must go" and waving tree branches in a gesture of peaceful defiance. Demonstrators voiced outrage over police brutality and the broader governance of President William Ruto. Despite a government ban on live TV and radio coverage, which was later overturned by Nairobi’s High Court, the events received wide public attention.

Rights Groups Condemn Police Response

The Law Society of Kenya condemned what it called the "unnecessary aggression and brute force" by police officers, blaming them for the “senseless loss of life.” Human rights groups also reported several officers injured, and accused the government of escalating violence by suppressing peaceful protest.

Anniversary of 2024 Protests and Broader Discontent

This week’s protests coincided with the anniversary of 2024 demonstrations that left over 60 dead. The recurring unrest underscores growing frustration, particularly among Kenya’s youth, over economic hardship, police impunity, and political exclusion.