19 protest suspects freed as police recover looted goods in Kiambu

One suspect, accused of storing the stolen goods, was arrested and is expected to be arraigned. Meanwhile, in Ol Kalou, Nyandarua County, 19 suspects linked to the violence in the area have been released on a personal bond of Ksh.100,000 each.

Gas cylinders, television sets, mattresses, microwaves, bicycles; these are just some of the assorted items recovered from a store in the Masaku area of Ruiru town. The discovery was made by police officers investigating incidents of burglary linked to the June 25th anniversary protests.

The goods, believed to have been stolen from Quickmart Supermarket in Ruiru, were found stored in premises owned by Geoffrey Mbugua, who is now in police custody.

“We have come to realize he is a serial offender and because we have been able to recover other things, he is also involved in unadulterated alcohol. He has been producing fake alcohol. We have gotten fake KRA stickers,” said Doris Kemey, Police Commander, Kiambu.

Mbugua, one of 154 suspects arrested over the recent looting, was also found in possession of 42 litres of ethanol and counterfeit cigarettes. Police say the dragnet is far from over, with the hunt still on for other suspects, including those accused of stealing firearms from Dagoretti Police Station.

In Ol Kalou, Nyandarua County, 19 suspects linked to the recent chaos have been released on a personal bond of Ksh.100,000 each, with two sureties. The prosecution had sought to detain them for 21 more days to wrap up investigations, but the court declined, citing a lack of sufficient grounds.

“I do not find that police offered good reasons for the continued detention of the arrested persons before me, because the matter they used to justify the detention is being subject to investigations,” said Judicaster Nthuku, Principal Magistrate.

The cases will be mentioned on July 27th.

Nyandarua Governor Kiarie Badilisha has criticized security agencies for allegedly failing to apprehend the real masterminds behind the chaos, including those who set ablaze 24 vehicles during the protests.

“Tunasikitika kuona security apparatus wakienda kushika watoto wadogo ambao tunawajua ambao hawawezi piga gari. Sisi tunadai wale wanaonekana kwa picha. Sisi hatuwezi watawafuta maana wengine wao si wa hapa,” said Kiarie. 

Meanwhile, in Mombasa, a section of activists has raised the alarm over what they claim is a state-led crackdown targeting them in the wake of recent demonstrations. They argue that the arrest of their colleagues is part of a wider scheme to silence dissenting voices.

“Wafuate wale ambao wanahusika na ukishika mtu mmoja hawawezi kututisha. Tunaandamana peupe,” said Wallid Sketi, an activist in Mombasa.

“Kuna propaganda kubwa sana kuwa maandamano zinapata wafadhili. Hii yote ni uongo. Hii ni kuweza kuwaogopesha watu. MaGen Z nani anawafund? Wengine ni students. Ikiwa ni funding, wengine tungekuwa matajiri twaenda na magari,” said Francis Auma, another Mombasa-based activist.

The activists say they are now living in fear and are calling on the government to guarantee their safety and protect their right to protest.