Police battle chaos in Kikuyu and Dagoretti as Gen Z demos erupt; five guns stolen, 25 arrested

Chaos erupted in Kikuyu and Dagoretti on Wednesday as Gen Z-led protests escalated into violence, leading to the theft of five firearms from a police post, the torching of public offices, and the arrest of 25 individuals.

Protesters, many allegedly hired from Limuru and Kiambu counties, used lorries to dump stones and burn tyres across Southern Bypass and Old Kikuyu Road. Police from the Kenya Police Service, Administration Police Service, and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations responded swiftly, but crumbled under pressure as the crowd advanced toward Dagoretti. Consequently, the Specialized Crowd Police Command summoned reinforcements from Kiambu County headquarters.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen confirmed in a press briefing that the violence targeted police armouries. “The criminals were after guns in the armouries and police uniforms. Five firearms were stolen from Dagoretti Police Post, Kiambu County, while four were burnt at Gachui Police Post,” he revealed. The stolen weapons included two AK‑47 rifles, a G3 rifle, a Jericho pistol, and an anti‑riot gun.

During the chaos, rioters set fire to the Kikuyu Law Courts, County Government offices, and Dagoretti’s District Crime Prevention Unit, destroying several other buildings and vehicles. One person lost their life, and five police officers sustained injuries during the unrest. Police later recovered a stolen body laid at Kikuyu Police Station’s gate at around 6 p.m. The unrest reignited as some protest gangs regrouped around the Kikuyu Affordable Housing estate, prompting further arrests in the evening.

Authorities detained and charged 25 people with offences including unlawful assembly, property destruction, and weapons theft. CS Murkomen warned that the state would trace the violence back to its source. “We witnessed a well-orchestrated campaign. This violence was deliberate, coordinated, funded, and politically instigated,” he said.

The situation began with peaceful memorial-style marches by Gen Z youth remembering victims of last year’s Finance Bill protests. Protestors carried placards and marched along major roads. However, fringe elements hijacked the rallies and descended into criminal activity. Residents described the scene as shifting dramatically from solemn to violent within hours.

Following the arrests, police deployed extra officers throughout Nairobi and Kiambu counties. They placed tight patrols on feeder roads and residential estates. Officials also appealed to the public to help trace the stolen firearms and identify suspects.

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua condemned the violence, suggesting external forces had infiltrated the protests. “We have seen goons ferried into protest zones under police escort,” he claimed, adding that such intimidation aimed to undermine the movement’s legitimacy.

Local business leaders said they lost income during the day’s unrest. Roads remained blocked even after police cleared the main routes. Residents worried that stolen firearms might fuel future criminal acts across the region.