Kenya’s Interior Ministry Speaks On Thika Road Robbery After Ruto’s Visit
A day after Kenyans were openly robbed on Thika Road, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo justified the government’s actions, stressing the difficulty of balancing security and human rights.
On Tuesday, chaos broke out near the National Youth Service (NYS) headquarters as a mob looted stores, trashed automobiles, and robbed commuters.
Had an engaging and insightful discussion on @SpiceFMKE, delving into critical issues surrounding internal security, administration and the management of Kenya's borders.
— Dr. Raymond Omollo — CBS (@ray_omollo) March 12, 2025
Our conversation explored the delicate balance between internal and external security, highlighting the… pic.twitter.com/o4QGdbIAWB
Videos showed them attacking public transportation and forcing businesses to close.
According to eyewitnesses, the looters visited President William Ruto’s political event before unleashing havoc on the streets.
Several people were hurt while fleeing the onslaught. The gangs were claimed to have operated on Thika Road, Juja Road, and Outering Road, where President Ruto’s convoy had passed.
Despite the severity of the violence, reports indicate that the police failed to intervene in time.
According to other accounts, the gangs blocked roadways, forcing police to fire warning rounds into the air.
On Spice FM on Wednesday, Omollo maintained that law enforcement must follow legal guidelines.
Raymond Omollo, Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Interior and National Administration: Our ratio of police officers to Kenyans, we are definitely way outside what internationally is acceptable which should be about 1:400. Now, in a population of over 55 million Kenyans,… pic.twitter.com/jtDYUj2wlA
— KTN News (@KTNNewsKE) March 12, 2025
“In the case yesterday where Kenyans were robbed, we have a responsibility to contain that, and while trying to do so, we must ensure a balance,” he said.
“A balance in the sense that we have the responsibility to maintain security and protect Kenyans and their property,” he added.
“At the same time, we must also consider how we deal with criminals. Otherwise, we may risk violating fundamental human rights.”
The announcement comes amid mounting outrage over police conduct, including reports that policemen killed three people during protests in Majengo last week.
This is in addition to a 17-year-old who was allegedly shot dead by police on Monday last week, resulting in violent demonstrations.
“In this context, we expect the police to take responsibility for maintaining law and order,” he said.
“Our police-to-population ratio is far outside internationally acceptable standards, which should be approximately one officer per 400 people.”
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He further stated, “Now, in a population of over 55 million Kenyans, we have about 110,000 police officers. When you consider this alongside the size of the country, it becomes almost impossible to have officers in every corner.”
He emphasized that preserving security requires a delicate balancing act.
“We must protect Kenyans and their property, but we also have to be mindful of human rights,” he added.
Critics say the government is failing to safeguard civilians, and many wonder if law enforcement is doing enough.
Kenya’s Interior Ministry Speaks On Thika Road Robbery After Ruto’s Visit
