DCI Arrests 24 People After President Ruto’s Orders Over Protest Violence
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has arrested 24 people believed to have been involved in violent incidents during the nationwide protests held on Tuesday, June 25.
These arrests followed a direct order from President William Ruto, who instructed law enforcement authorities to take swift action against individuals who participated in the destruction of public property.
In a statement issued on Friday, June 27, the DCI confirmed that the suspects were linked to the torching of the Kikuyu Law Courts, the Kikuyu Sub-County offices, and several other government buildings.
The suspects were reportedly part of a group that not only set fire to critical infrastructure but also vandalised and destroyed valuable assets, including government vehicles, tractors, and tuktuks.
The suspects were brought before the Chief Magistrate’s Court at the Ruiru Law Courts. There, the investigators successfully secured a 14-day custodial order, allowing them more time to gather evidence and conduct thorough investigations.
According to the DCI report, the suspects are accused of storming the Kikuyu Law Courts during the protest and setting the entire judicial facility on fire.
The Deputy County Commissioner’s (DCC) office was also targeted and burnt down. Protesters reportedly broke into other nearby offices, where they smashed windows, destroyed important documents, and damaged office furniture.
Eyewitnesses at the scene described the chaos, noting that some police officers tried to contain the blaze using buckets filled with water and soil in a desperate attempt to stop the fire from spreading.
Despite their efforts, the damage was extensive, leading to the closure of the court for investigations and future renovations.
President Ruto, speaking at the World MSME Day event in Nairobi, strongly condemned the violence, saying that what occurred was not a peaceful protest but a carefully planned operation aimed at causing disorder and damaging the country’s institutions.
He directed the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, and the DCI to waste no time in arresting anyone connected to the lawlessness witnessed on that day.
Chief Justice Martha Koome also visited the burnt Kikuyu Law Courts on Thursday, June 26. She condemned the destruction, calling it an outright attack on Kenya’s Constitution and a serious blow to the rule of law.
CJ Koome explained that such attacks not only delay justice for Kenyans but also weaken efforts to ensure everyone — especially the poor and vulnerable — can access justice.
“Courts are sacred institutions in a constitutional democracy. They are the places where justice is served and the rights of all citizens are protected,” Koome emphasized during her speech.
During her visit, Judiciary officials revealed that crucial judicial tools like servers and registry boxes were destroyed in the fire. This loss will significantly impact ongoing and future court operations.
The destruction wasn’t limited to Kikuyu Law Courts. The newly built Dagoretti Law Courts were also vandalised, while the historic Ol Kalou Law Courts — currently used to store court exhibits — was broken into and damaged by the rioters.
Separately, DCI detectives uncovered some of the stolen items from the chaos. Two steel windows, a steel door, and a water tank that had been taken from the County Government’s physical planning offices were found abandoned in a bushy area between Mai-ii-hii and Kabete.
The nationwide protests, initially meant to express discontent with government policies, have now turned into a matter of national concern, with top leaders calling for accountability and justice.
As investigations continue, authorities have promised to bring all those involved in the destruction of public property to book.
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