Authorities have arrested 45 individuals in connection with the violent protests and widespread looting that erupted in Kikuyu, Kiambu County, and Nyeri town on June 25, 2025. The demonstrations, originally organized to commemorate the first anniversary of the anti-finance bill protests held in 2024, spiraled out of control, resulting in significant destruction of property and disruption of public order.
In Kikuyu, rioters torched several government facilities, including the Kikuyu Law Courts and Sub-County offices. Vehicles, tractors, and tuk-tuks were also set ablaze in the wave of violence that shocked residents and authorities alike. Following the chaos, detectives promptly launched investigations to identify those responsible for the destruction.
So far, 24 suspects from the Kikuyu area have been apprehended and arraigned at the Ruiru Law Courts. The court granted investigators a 14-day custodial order to continue with their inquiries. During the operation, security teams also recovered two steel windows, a steel door, and a water tank believed to have been looted from the County Government’s physical planning offices. These items were discovered abandoned in a bush near the Mai-ii-hii and Kabete areas.
Meanwhile, in Nyeri, police arrested 21 individuals accused of shop breaking, theft, and handling stolen property. Out of these, 10 suspects pleaded guilty and are expected back in court on July 2 for facts reading. The remaining 11 pleaded not guilty and were released on a KSh100,000 bond each. Their case will be mentioned on July 10, 2025.
The unrest on June 25 affected at least 23 counties, with incidents of looting, vandalism, and infrastructure destruction widely reported. The protests, which began peacefully in some areas, took a violent turn as opportunists infiltrated the crowds, leading to clashes with law enforcement and attacks on public and private property.
The government has condemned the violence, emphasizing that accountability will be enforced. Investigations remain active, and more arrests are expected in the coming days.
Officials have called for calm, urging Kenyans to exercise their constitutional right to protest within the confines of the law. The National Police Service has reiterated that any acts of lawlessness during demonstrations will be met with strict legal consequences. As the country reflects on the events of June 25, authorities continue to seek justice for affected communities and ensure order is restored.
