Kenya DPP Defends Terror Charges Against Hundreds After Protests
Kenya DPP Defends Terror Charges Against Hundreds After Protests

Kenya DPP Defends Terror Charges Against Hundreds After Protests

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Kenya's Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has defended the decision to charge dozens of protesters arrested during the June 25 and July 7 demonstrations with terrorism under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), emphasizing that the charges are grounded in law and national security rather than political repression. The charges follow investigations that found the attacks on government institutions—including the torching of the Kikuyu Law Courts and assaults on police stations and government offices—were calculated, coordinated acts aimed at disrupting essential government services and instilling fear in the public. The DPP cited Chief Justice Martha Koome's characterization of the Kikuyu Law Courts arson as an act of terrorism, reinforcing the legal basis for the charges. Despite criticism from civil society and opposition leaders who argue the charges are an overreach intended to stifle dissent, the ODPP maintains that the actions meet the legal thresholds for terrorism as outlined in Sections 2 and 4 of POTA. The prosecution underscores the importance of distinguishing between peaceful protest and violent acts intended to destabilize national institutions. The DPP also reaffirmed the commitment to upholding free press and civil society roles in democratic governance while prioritizing national security.

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