Among the recoveries include washing machines, refrigerators, water dispensers, bicycles, kitchenware, food items, and items of clothing among many others.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Thursday, July 4 announced the arrest of a series of suspects who were masquerading as protestors in the anti-government protests after they were found in possession of goods stolen from two supermarkets.
The arrest came amidst ongoing investigations into the breaking and torching of Chieni supermarkets in Nyeri and Nanyuki, with police in Nyeri and Laikipia counties recovering the stolen goods.
Among the recoveries include washing machines, refrigerators, water dispensers, bicycles, kitchenware, food items, and items of clothing among many others.
Stolen items of clothing recovered by DCI detectives in Nyeri and Laikipia. /DCI
“At a rental house in Nanyuki, 24-year-old Chris Nduni Wamuhu was arrested with a stolen fridge, water dispenser, coffee cups, teaspoons, hotpot dishes and plates among others. This is after his image was captured in circulated phone recordings of stealing from the supermarket,” the DCI stated in part.
In another house still in Nanyuki next to Kengeles club, Moses Njuguna Gachwe, 30, was found with 22 pairs of khaki trousers, nine T-shirts, 24 undergarments (boxers) and sandals, all stolen during the demonstrations.
Another arrest was made in the outskirts of the town at Asian Quarters, with 35-year-old Charles Kaariri Mumbi caught with a junior ride bike, while John Ndirangu Ndirirtu, 41, was found with six vacuum flasks, a shopping trolley, a fridge and several plates and cups.
“Several other suspects have so far been arrested and more recoveries made, as police continue investigations to nab other identifiable persons captured igniting the fires and disappearing with stolen goods,” the DCI added.
The arrests came a day after traders under the Nairobi Business Community who spoke during a press briefing on Wednesday, July 3 called out Adamson Bungei, who is reported to have been reassigned from the Nairobi police boss position, for declining to order his police officers to intervene to prevent the goons from mass-raiding and looting shops in the city’s Central Business District (CBD), which bore the brunt of the chaotic demonstrations.
A female trader who was part of the media address cited an instance of a local supermarket looted in three hours while police were absent and instead using excessive force to quell the protests.
“We are asking you one question, is it that your police officers are collaborating with whoever is deploying the goons?” she posed in fury, adding that another supermarket was hit in a similar manner, but in under two hours, without police intervention.