IG Kanja praises peaceful June 25 commemorations in Kitengela
By Sharon Atieno, June 25, 2026Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has assured residents that Kitengela remained calm on Thursday as Kenyans marked the June 25 anniversary protests, saying the town had experienced a relatively peaceful day compared to previous demonstrations witnessed in the area.
Speaking in an interview during an inspection walk in Kitengela, Kajiado County on Thursday, June 25,2026, Kanja said security officers had maintained order across the town and credited police deployment for ensuring calm despite heightened tension reported in other parts of the country.
“Things are very, very different. That is the way I’m appreciating all of this. The police officers are the security providers and I appreciate the people of this area,” Kanja said.
The police boss noted that the situation in Kitengela had remained stable throughout the day even as security agencies remained on high alert following planned nationwide commemorations linked to the June 25, 2024 Gen Z protests.
Kitengela records calm unlike previous protests
Kanja’s remarks stood in sharp contrast to events witnessed in Kitengela weeks earlier when protests linked to the nationwide matatu strike left major sections of Namanga Road barricaded, transport grounded and movement disrupted across the fast-growing town.
On Thursday however, police reported no major disturbances, with security officers monitoring the situation as activities remained largely peaceful.
“So far so good. What we are seeing is that things are under control,” Kanja stated.
Security agencies on high alert
The calm in Kitengela came days after opposition leaders led by Martha Karua and James Orengo formally notified police of planned nationwide June 25 commemorations and demanded assurances that officers would protect peaceful demonstrators.
Kanja said police operations across the country were intelligence-led and coordinated jointly with other security agencies.
“Police does not work alone. We work together with other security providers, so we have got a lot of information and intelligence,” he said.
Residents urged to remain calm
The Inspector General further assured residents that security remained fully guaranteed as officers continued monitoring the situation throughout the day.
“People need to rest assured that security is fully provided for,” Kanja added.