The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has given an update on the progress of investigations to identify and arrest the ‘criminals’ who hijacked anti-finance bill protests on Tuesday, June 25.
In a statement dated July 1, DCI said groups with criminal minds took advantage of the nationwide peaceful protests organized by Kenyan youth (Gen Z) and devised schemes to cause harm and economically frustrate fellow Kenyans.
“Posing as demonstrators, the bad elements who were also well-organized earmarked several business premises including boutiques, electronic shops and supermarkets, breaking in and massively looting to the detriment of innocent business owners,” DCI said.
DCI explained that it is within its mandate as a criminal investigative agency to investigate and bring to book any persons involved in such outright criminality.
Detectives Analyzing CCTV Footages
According to DCI, the incident robbed numerous Kenyans their means of livelihood and worked towards compromising an otherwise crucial constitutional right.
“In that regard, the DCI’s Imaging and Acoustic Unit domiciled at the National Forensic Laboratory has since retrieved numerous CCTV footages that captured identifiable persons, whose felonious acts isolates them from the hundreds of thousands that stuck to their course,” the statement read in parts.
The Investigative Agency revealed that some of the accused individuals have been arrested and arraigned in various courts across the country.
However, the DCI stated that others are still at large, ready to continue causing damage and posing a risk to Kenyans.
“Whereas some have already been arrested and arraigned in various courts today, more are still out there on the streets waiting for other opportune times to strike again, causing more damage and risking the lives of innocent citizens caught up in the course of quelling the crimes,” the DCI said.
Also Read: Activist Steps Down from Gen Z-Led Protests 5 Days After Abduction
DCI Calls for Help to Arrest the Suspects
Additionally, the DCI stated that the public can help remove these ‘criminals’ from their hiding places since they do not share the same principles and values.
The Agency maintained that the individuals destroyed other people’s businesses and sources of income and do not deserve to be among other innocent Kenyans.
“We can flush them out from among our numbers because they do not share the principles that define what we stand for, and more so for the sake of those who did not deserve to lose their only means of livelihood in this manner,” added another part of the statement.
The DCI urged members of the public to report any of the identified suspects to the nearest police station or by calling their toll-free number.
“Do you know any of them? Please report to any police station or #FichuakwaDCI by calling our toll-free hotline 0800 722 203,” DCI said.
Also Read: Gen Z Protester Narrates Life After Surviving 6 Gun Shot Wounds
Ruto on Chaotic Anti-Finance Bill Protests
President William Ruto has constantly labelled the people who invaded and set fire to part of Parliament as criminals, not protesters.
Speaking during a round table interview on Sunday night June 30, Ruto said the ‘criminals’ targeted specific key sections of the parliamentary complex.
“There is a situation in Parliament. How did the invaders in Parliament, they invaded Parliament and went straight for the armoury at the mausoleum. They went straight at the armoury at the sergeant at arms office. Those are the investigations that we will get to, and a proper explanation will be given to the country,” Ruto stated.
Ruto maintained that the anti-Finance Bill protests was hijacked by criminal elements who subsequently caused chaos and even harmed the peaceful protesters.
“There are criminals who infiltrated and caused mayhem. And in fact, some of the criminals actually harmed the peaceful protesters. Some of the peaceful protesters lost phones. In fact, some of the peaceful protesters were attacked by criminals including the clear example that I have explained to you that they overpowered the police, took the gun from the police, and started shooting people,” Ruto said.
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