Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen reported the arrest of about 1,500 suspects linked to the violent protests across different parts of Kenya on June 25 and July 7, 2025.
The chaos left in its aftermath a trail of destruction of burnings, vandalism, and looting with neither public nor private institutions spared. In a press briefing on Tuesday, July 15, Murkomen provided an update on ongoing police investigations, reiterating the government’s pledge to prosecute all perpetrators.
The arrests come in the wake of widespread looting, destruction of property, and attacks on both private businesses and public institutions during the protests.
He revealed that those arrested are accused of committing a vast array of serious crimes ranging from terrorism, murder, robbery with violence, sexual assault, arson, malicious destruction of property, to targeted attacks on key infrastructure.
“Of those arrested, 50 individuals are currently under investigation by the Serious Crimes Investigations Unit, while 71 cases are being handled by the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit for offences related to acts of terrorism,” the Interior CS reported.
Murkomen also commended the timely and coordinated efforts of the security agencies of Kenya, crediting their success to timely intelligence that helped thwart plans to attack critical infrastructure, including transport networks.
He issued a stern warning to the perps behind the chaos, including financiers, sponsors, and coordinators of the anarchy.
“The financiers and political sponsors of this mayhem are being investigated and will soon answer for their crimes,” he said.
The CS also addressed police conduct in the protests. He reassured citizens that the government is committed to accountability, even with its own personnel.
“As I speak, one police officer has already been arraigned and is facing murder charges,” Murkomen noted.
Responding to growing fears of a covert “killer squad” allegedly operating within the state, Murkomen firmly dismissed the claims, saying no such group exists under the Kenya Kwanza administration.
“There is no non-police squad that is involved in killing people, at least not in this administration and not to the knowledge of the Cabinet Secretary,” he stated. “It would be unconstitutional and illegal to establish a squad anywhere in Kenya to kill people.”
