The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has announced the arrest of 485 individuals linked to the violent chaos that rocked the country during Wednesday’s nationwide protests.
Speaking at a press briefing in Nairobi, DCI Director Mohamed Amin revealed that 448 suspects have already been charged in court, while 37 remain under investigation, some facing ongoing custodial hearings.
“The charges range from murder, terrorism, rape, gang rape, arson, robbery with violence, and incitement to violence, to possession of illegal firearms,” Amin said.
Amin said preliminary investigations and statements from suspects suggest that the violence was not spontaneous, but the result of a deliberate and well-funded plot aimed at causing civil unrest and anarchy under the cover of protest.
“Individuals were strategically mobilised and transported, particularly into Nairobi, from different parts of the country — not to express legitimate grievances, but to execute a coordinated agenda of disruption,” he stated.
The protests, initially billed as youth-led demonstrations demanding government accountability, quickly spiralled into violence, with incidents reported in Nairobi, Kitengela, Dagoreti, Naivasha, Kikuyu, and Nyeri, among others.
According to Amin, businesses bore the brunt of the violence.
Numerous wholesale and retail outlets were looted and vandalised, and ATMs were destroyed, with millions of shillings reported stolen.
The DCI chief also confirmed receiving credible reports of sexual violence, including rape and gang rape, allegedly perpetrated by criminals who had infiltrated the demonstrations.
“These incidents add a horrifying dimension to an already grave situation,” he said.
“The presence of criminals among the protestors has compounded the suffering of innocent citizens.”
The DCI also disclosed that firearms and police equipment
were stolen during attacks on law enforcement officers. Disturbingly, some of
the stolen weapons have already been used in violent robberies, particularly in
the Naivasha area, Amin said.
While acknowledging that some demonstrators took part in the protests peacefully and in good faith, Amin urged the public to distinguish legitimate dissent from criminal activity.
“We must not allow criminals to hijack public expression and plunge the country into chaos,” he warned.
