Five arraigned over violent June 25 Ol Kalou protests

Five individuals accused of orchestrating the violent protests in Ol Kalou, Nyandarua county, on June 25, have been arraigned at the Ol Kalou Law Courts.

The suspects face multiple charges arising from the chaos that rocked the usually quiet town during countrywide anti-government demonstrations.

According to police, the group was involved in a riot that led to widespread destruction, including looting, torching of property, and injuries to both civilians and security officers.

They have been charged with four counts of arson and one count of unlawful destruction of buildings by a riotous assembly.

All pleaded not guilty and were each released on a bond of Sh10 million, with two sureties of the same amount.

The matter will be mentioned in court again on July 21, 2025.

The charges stem from events during the June 25 protests that were part of nationwide demonstrations against police brutality.

What began as largely peaceful protests in several towns quickly escalated into violence in parts of the country, including Ol Kalou.

Protesters, most of them youth, clashed with police amid accusations of excessive force and arbitrary arrests.

In Ol Kalou, businesses were ransacked, government buildings damaged, and several vehicles torched.

Police were overwhelmed for several hours as demonstrators overran parts of the town centre, setting fires and pelting officers with stones.

Authorities later blamed the destruction on criminal elements who infiltrated the protests to cause mayhem.

The unrest in Ol Kalou was among the most destructive witnessed outside Nairobi, drawing national attention and prompting a heavier police presence in subsequent demonstrations.

The Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen condemned the violence, saying lawful protest should not be used as a cover for criminality.

At the same time, human rights groups raised concerns over police conduct during the protests, calling for independent investigations into reports of excessive force and rights violations.

State-run Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) said in its preliminary report that at least 19 people died, mostly from gunshot wounds.

As legal proceedings begin, the case is among those expected to set the tone for how authorities handle similar incidents in future, especially in the context of the ongoing outrage over police brutality and growing discontent over governance and public accountability.