Nairobi Member of County Assembly (MCA) representing Kileleshwa ward Robert Alai has called for individuals involved in torching police stations during recent protests to be charged with terrorism.
Alai’s demand comes in the wake of escalating tensions following violent demonstrations that have seen significant damage to public infrastructure, including several police stations.
While reacting to an incident where anti-terror police dramatically re-arrested former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s ally Peter Kinyanjui, alias Kawanjiru, outside Ruiru courts shortly after being freed on bond on Friday, July 4, 2025, Alai stated that anyone who torches a police station should face terror charges.
“All who torch police stations must be charged with TERRORISM,” Alai stated.
Kawanjiru was initially arrested in connection to the torching of Kiambu Law Courts during the June 25 protests.
The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) youth leader’s family attempted to prevent the officers from rearresting the politician, but their efforts were thwarted as the police carted him off to a nearby vehicle.
Beatrice Wanjiru, the politician’s mother, wailed as she pleaded with the officers to release her son, a plea that fell on deaf ears.
The officers fired shots in the air to disperse the crowd, causing panic among the people who scattered in different directions.
June 25 protests
The protests, which erupted on June 25, 2025, have been marked by chaotic scenes, with protesters breaking through barriers and engaging in acts of arson that have drawn international condemnation.
The violence has not only targeted government buildings but has also resulted in significant loss of life, with Amnesty Kenya reporting that most of the 16 deaths recorded during the protests were at the hands of police.
Alai’s terrorism charges call
Alai’s advocacy for terrorism charges reflects a broader narrative of heightened security concerns in Kenya, where the government is increasingly invoking anti-terrorism laws to address what it describes as threats to national peace and security.
This approach, however, will raise alarms among human rights organisations and legal experts, who might argue that such measures could be disproportionately applied and infringe upon freedoms of expression and assembly.
The politician’s stance is not without precedent. In 2019, Alai himself faced arrest under the Prevention of Terrorism Act for sharing images related to a terror attack, a case that highlighted the controversial use of such laws to curb dissent.
