Demos: Manhunt launched for goons captured destroying properties

The country’s investigative agency has launched a manhunt of individuals who engaged in wanton destruction of property during the anti-Finance Bill protests yesterday.

On Wednesday, the Directorate of Criminal of Investigations (DCI) while releasing the faces of the suspects for their unlawful activities asked members of the public to channel information of the whereabouts to their hotline number.

“The Individuals whose images/photos appear below are wanted by the police for their unlawful activities during the anti-finance bill 2024 demonstrations. We therefore advise them to report to the nearest police station for further police action. Information on the whereabouts of any of the suspects may be channeled confidentially to the anonymous,” said the DCI.

So far, security officers have arrested one suspect who was captured invading Bondo Police Station while armed with crude weapons including stones and catapults, slings, petrol bombs and other concealed weapons.

“Already, one of the suspects (Sostine Otieno) captured in a phone recording attacking a police officer and leaving him sprawled on the tarmac before robbing him of his anti-riot gun (launcher) has been arrested and the gun recovered, as pursuit for his accomplices who have since been identified heightens,” read their statement.

According to the DCI, the incident left several police officers with serious injuries following protests erupted in the region over the contentious Finance Bill.

During the demos, at least 204 suspects were apprehended, 35 in the Coastal region, 18 in Nyanza and 11 and 4 in Rift Valley and Eastern regions.

The DCI said that it had deployed scrupulous investigators across the affected regions to pursue suspects captured on CCTV cameras and mobile phone recordings violently robbing, stealing and destroying properties and businesses of innocent citizens.