A police officer holding the recovered laptops from the protest/HANDOUTThe National Police Service (NPS) has responded to a viral video showing a police officer holding laptops, clarifying the context behind the footage.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the NPS said the video was recorded during the protests in Nairobi on June 17, 2025, during which several shops were broken into and items stolen.
Police arrested one suspect and recovered four laptops, which are now being held as evidence at the Central Police Station.
“We urge anyone whose premises were broken into and had laptops stolen to visit the Central Police Station to identify the recovered items,” the statement read.
The police said investigations are ongoing to trace and arrest all those involved in the looting and destruction that occurred during the protests.
NPS reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property, and to upholding law and order even in the face of public unrest.
Earlier, Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris defended the police, cautioning against the misrepresentation of the viral video.
She clarified that the laptops seen in the officer’s possession had been recovered, not taken away unlawfully.
“I spoke to Regional Police Commander George Seda. The laptops looted from the electronics shop were recovered and are safely in police custody,” she said, urging media outlets not to mislead the public or erode trust in the police.
The incident follows the June 17 anti-DIG Eliud Lagat protests in Nairobi’s Central Business District, sparked by public outrage over the death of teacher and social media influencer Albert Ojwang’.
Protesters called for justice and accountability. The demonstrations turned chaotic, with police firing teargas to disperse crowds gathered across the CBD.
Tensions escalated when groups of armed youths, some on motorbikes and wielding wooden clubs, marched through the city center. Eyewitness photos showed the men moving in groups, shouting and brandishing weapons.
