Police have arrested 13 suspects and recovered a cache of stolen items in a sweeping crackdown targeting looters behind the chaos that rocked parts of the country during the June 25 demonstrations.
In Mbeere South, officers from DCI and Kiritiri Police Station arrested two women, Francisca Mwingi and Linda Karimi, after recovering a stolen white water tank with a metal casing. The tank was allegedly looted from Kiritiri Market at the height of the protests.
Elsewhere, in Maai Mahiu, Naivasha Sub-County, seven individuals were arrested in connection with the ransacking of Transit Hotel. Police recovered a range of items, including two curtains, three pillows with pillowcases, a curtain rod, and two large sufurias.
The suspects were identified as Raphael Njagi, Kelvin Kahuha, David Kinyanjui, Susan Njeri Karanja, Grace Mugure, Johanna Gichigo, and Joseph Nganga Njambi.
All suspects are expected to face charges that include theft, arson, and malicious damage to property.
In Nairobi, detectives conducting a parallel probe in Kikuyu and Dagoretti intercepted a Nissan matatu believed to have ferried rioters from the Gachui-Mutuini area to Dagoretti Centre.
Authorities say the group stormed a police post, where they allegedly stole police firearms and uniforms, assaulted officers, and torched the facility.
Four suspects were arrested in connection with the Nairobi incident including Sammy Ndungu Kariuki alias Ndoji (the group’s mobliliser), Lawrence Kariuki Ndungu, who was captured on CCTV with a stolen police firearm, Ali Shama Tabet alias Alibaba, and Simon Njoroge Hiuhu.
Police say the suspects were found in possession of items looted from shops during the protests.
Investigations are ongoing as police intensify efforts to apprehend more suspects and recover property stolen during the unrest.
