Eight individuals have been arrested in connection with the theft of government-issued fertiliser during recent demonstrations, following a targeted operation by law enforcement authorities. The operation, carried out in Luluma Village, Makiri area, and Maua Township within Igembe South Sub-County, was intelligence-led and aimed at recovering stolen property linked to the unrest on June 25, 2025.
Authorities confirmed the recovery of 63 bags of government fertiliser during the operation. In addition, they impounded a silver Toyota Probox, registration number KCW 822T, believed to have been used in transporting the stolen goods. Three motorcycles earing registration numbers KMFS 106Q, KMFY 687H, and KMFM 529E were also seized on suspicion of being used for similar purposes.
In a separate but related incident in Malindi, Kilifi County, fourteen other suspects were apprehended following a forensic investigation that connected them to acts of vandalism and destruction of property amid the same wave of protests. These arrests underline the intensifying efforts by law enforcement to hold accountable those exploiting civil unrest for criminal gain.
Meanwhile, in Embu County, another six individuals were taken into custody after allegedly participating in theft and property destruction during the protests. The suspects, arrested on June 28, 2025, were found in possession of various stolen items.
Among those arrested in Embu was a 22-year-old and a 19-year-old, both reportedly linked to the theft of a washing machine. A 28-year-old suspect was found with an assortment of retail products believed to have been looted from a local shop. Additionally, a 29-year-old was discovered with bottles of whisky and a bundle of steel wire, while a 26-year-old was caught at Downtown Guest House in possession of a variety of suspected stolen items. These included two desktop computers, a television set, wristwatches, three pairs of boots, jackets, several pairs of new jeans trousers, and multiple extension cables.
All suspects remain in custody pending formal arraignment, with proceedings expected to begin today at the Embu Law Courts.
The recent arrests form part of a broader government initiative to maintain law and order in the face of increasing civil disobedience. While reaffirming the importance of upholding constitutional freedoms such as the right to protest, authorities stressed the need to draw a clear line between lawful expression and criminal exploitation of public disorder.
Investigations remain ongoing, with security agencies pursuing additional leads aimed at identifying and apprehending more individuals involved in the theft and destruction of public and private property during the protests.
