Six civil rights activists were arrested on Monday after staging a protest outside Jogoo House in Nairobi and throwing two dummy coffins into the government compound.
Police said they acted on intelligence that a group of activists planned to hold a media briefing outside the building to demand the immediate resignation of Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja.
They accused him of taking sides in police work.
The officers reportedly laid an ambush in the Sunken area before a group of six men arrived at around 11am carrying two dummy coffins and a large poster bearing the image of the police chief.
Police said the protesters threw the coffins into the Jogoo House compound, while one of them, identified as Julius Kamau, chained himself to the gate.
The officers moved in and arrested all six men.
Those arrested were identified as Collins Otieno, Joshua Njajom, Mulinge Muteti, Julius Kamau, Elisha Ochieng and Michael Ngige.
Police described the suspects as “known habitual city troublemakers” and said they were being held at Central Police Station pending their arraignment on Tuesday, August 18.
The incident comes amid heightened political and civil rights activism in Nairobi, with activists increasingly using symbolic demonstrations to protest against government and security agencies.
The police report classified the incident as wilful obstruction and an attempted unlawful demonstration.
There has been concerns over the police conduct which has led to loss of lives and property.
Police have been siding with goons in some instances to attack innocent members of the public.
This has raised concerns of interference from elsewhere.
Kanja denies the claims and maintains they are in charge. He said all the reported cases are under probe and hopes those behind the same will be caught and charged.
And two people, including a senior police officer and a lawyer, were injured after residents turned hostile during an attempt to execute a court order at Gatoto Primary School in Nairobi’s Makadara Sub-County on Monday.
According to police, a team of 62 officers was deployed to the school on August 17 to facilitate the execution of a court order issued in High Court Constitutional and Human Rights Petition No. E686 of 2024.
The operation brought together senior security officials.
Also present were Regional Director of Education Reuben Kipturgor and lawyer Collins Kirui, representing the petitioner.
However, the operation was met with resistance after members of the community allegedly began pelting the officials with stones.
Kirui was injured on his right leg, while the sub county commander Judith Nyongesa sustained injuries to her right shoulder during the confrontation.
Police said officers remained at the scene in an effort to maintain control and facilitate the execution of the court order despite the hostility from the community.
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