The Imusali secondary school administration block that was set on fire by protesters on December 4, 2025./HILTON OTENYOPolice have arrested 66 people, among them two MCAs, for suspected involvement in a fracas that claimed four lives during protests over the proposed Sh680 billion gold mining project in Ikolomani on Thursday.
Ten of those in custody were arrested on Thursday evening, while 53 others were arrested during a dawn police operation on Friday.
Western Regional Police Commander Issa Mohamoud said that a pistol magazine belonging to the Isulu Police Post was also stolen.
The magazine, loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition, was stolen when the rioters attempted to overrun the Isulu Police Post on Thursday evening.
“They wanted to take guns and burn the police post. They wrestled the OCS to the ground, wanting to snatch his pistol, but he fought back, and in the process the magazine dropped, but we still have the pistol,” he said.
Mohamoud said during a press briefing that the two MCAs were arrested in connection with the chaos during the operation.
“They are the ones who were dishing out money to the protesters. Investigations are ongoing to unmask their masters,” Mohamoud said.
The police boss alleged that the Thursday chaos were planned by politicians and executed by hired goons. He said some of the politicians who planned the chaos were shouting the loudest in public.
“They wanted to kill officers, disrupt government operations, and intimidate investors,” he said, adding that the Thursday disturbance amounted to treason.
“Goonism has been rife in the West, and action has not been taken, and that’s what we’re doing now. That’s why I’m here and armed, ready to do my work. We will expose the sponsors of these goons who cause mayhem, and we will use force,” he said.
He said that one of the dead goons was facing murder and arson charges. Mohamoud added that a total of 21 police officers were injured during the fracas.
The fracas broke out on Thursday morning as residents of Ikolomani took to the streets to protest against a planned meeting for public participation on the proposed mining of the Sh680 billion worth of gold discovered in the constituency by a British company.
They were protesting against the proposed relocation of over 800 households from the constituency to pave the way for extraction of the precious mineral.
The marauding demonstrators, who were armed with crude weapons, stormed Imusali Primary School, where the meeting was scheduled to be held, and destroyed property worth millions after breaking into and burning the neighbouring Imusali Secondary School administration block
