As nationwide Gen Z-led protests continue to shake Kenya’s political and social landscape, a darker narrative is beginning to emerge.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has arrested several suspects believed to be behind the theft of fertiliser worth over Ksh.29 million, allegedly looted during the chaos that engulfed various parts of the country in recent days.
The fertiliser consignment, destined for farmers in the Rift Valley, was intercepted and stolen while in transit during one of the most intense waves of demonstrations. Authorities believe the suspects took advantage of the unrest, using the disruption as cover to execute a well-coordinated heist.
In a statement, DCI officers revealed that the suspects were traced through surveillance footage and digital tracking. Several bags of the stolen fertiliser have since been recovered from various warehouses across Nairobi and Nakuru counties. Investigations are still underway to determine whether the suspects were acting independently or in collusion with organized criminal networks exploiting the protests.
However, the arrests have sparked concern among human rights groups, who argue that the state is using the looting incidents to justify excessive crackdowns on peaceful demonstrators.
Organizations such as the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) have called for transparency in the investigations and a clear distinction between genuine protestors and opportunistic criminals.
“The youth have a right to peaceful assembly and expression. We must not allow isolated acts of theft to be used as a blanket excuse to criminalize an entire movement,” said KHRC Executive Director Davis Malombe.
As the protests persist, a complex picture is emerging, one where legitimate civic outrage intersects with opportunism, and where state security responses must walk the delicate line between law enforcement and upholding constitutional freedoms.
