The Kenyan police said they had arrested at least 272 thugs and thugs, masquerading as protesters, suspected of having gone on a 'criminal rampage' during last Tuesday's anti-government demonstrations.
Widespread looting and property damage were reported during the youth-led unrest in various cities across the country, which, according to the protesters themselves, were perpetrated by infiltrators.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations also suspects that behind many of these criminals are hidden financiers who allegedly paid them to destabilise. For this, as the media reported, a number of local politicians and businessmen were detained.
"Security forces across the country have identified suspects involved in criminal activities under the pretext of protesting and taken them into custody," the Directorate of Criminal Investigations said in a statement published in X.
The statement said that a total of 204 suspects were arrested in the capital Nairobi and another 68 in various areas of the country. Many were caught through viewing CCTV footage placed in shops, supermarkets and businesses.
"The DCI deployed investigators to gain access to the recordings and also viewed footage taken on mobile phones by other protesters, and were able to recognise many people as they robbed, stole and violently destroyed the property and businesses of innocent citizens," the statement said.
According to not only the security forces, but also public opinion and some Generation Z leaders, Tuesday's protests, which were supposed to be peaceful, degenerated into violence and looting because of these people and those who manoeuvred them.
In Mombasa, for example, two miscreants were killed by the same residents of the area where a handful of troublemakers were burning cars and attacking a bar and restaurant.
With these arrests, the police hope to get to the bottom of possible instigators and prevent further protests, planned for tomorrow and Sunday 7 July, from taking place in a civilised atmosphere.