Anti-tax protests: 123 people charged for looting, destroying property worth Ksh.100M in Naivasha

Over 100 people, among them 15 minors, have been charged in a Naivasha court for allegedly raiding and looting property worth over Ksh.100 million during the recent wave of anti-Finance Bill 2024 demonstrations.

The 123 suspects, who also included 19 women, were accused of looting Naivas Supermarket, Naivasha MP’s office and EPCO hotel where they left a trail of destruction.

The incident came as police heightened patrols in the town mainly near supermarkets while launching a search for property stolen from the supermarket.

During the incident, a group of youths first raided the MP's office and the adjacent hotel before heading to the supermarket where police nabbed them.

The suspects were charged on Friday virtually before Naivasha Principal Magistrate Juliana Nd’engeri with three counts including stealing, malicious damage and being in possession of stolen goods.

They were charged that on June 25, 2024 in Naivasha town, they raided the supermarket and stole and damaged property worth over Ksh.70 million.

The suspects who were unrepresented faced two other charges of raiding the MP’s office and EPCO hotel and stealing property worth over Ksh. 30 million.

They all denied the charges levelled against them and were released on a cash bond of Ksh.200,000 and a surety of the same or a cash bail of Ksh.100,000, failure to which they be remanded at Naivasha Remand Prison.

The case will come up for mention on July 16, 2024.

Police have since heightened security in the town while seeking more suspects involved in the robbery and torching of businesses in the town.

According to Naivasha OCPD Stephen Kirui, more armed anti-riot officers drawn from the prisons and the Anti-Stock Theft Unit have been dispatched to the town.

He termed the town as very peaceful, adding that they were not taking chances and had heightened patrols.

"They entered Naivas Kubwa and started looting…they burned the CDF office before going to Naivas. There was also a vehicle which was burned,” he said.

“As we speak now, the situation is normal and businesses are back, but we still have security on the ground to ensure the crowd is calm. We made some recoveries yesterday including two motorbikes and some mattresses being stolen from the Niavas supermarket.”

He added: “Over 100 suspects have already been arraigned in court and we are seeking the stolen goods while searching for all those involved in this criminal activities."