Police recover goods looted in Ruiru during last week’s demos, arrest one suspect
She divulged that the goods stolen from Ruiru's Quickmart supermarket were recovered from a store belonging to a local businessman Geoffrey Mbugua who was arrested
Police in Ruiru, Kiambu County have recovered an assortment of goods looted from Quickmart Supermarket, Ruiru branch in Kiambu county during last Wednesday’s demonstrations and arrested one person as a key suspect.
They included mattresses, TV screens, gas cylinders, bicycles and fluorescent tubes among other items found in a store in Masaku area of Ruiru town.
Also recovered were firearms stolen from Dagoretti police station, according to County Police Commander Doris Kemei who termed the operation as a “breakthrough.”
She divulged that the goods stolen from Ruiru’s Quickmart supermarket were recovered from a store belonging to a local businessman Geoffrey Mbugua who was arrested.
The police commander added that so far 154 suspects have been arrested in connection with looting and destruction of property in Kiambu County during the nationwide protests to mark the first anniversary of the June 25th, 2024 killing of Gen-Zs by police.
Those arrested, she said, were found with items believed to have been looted from various shops while some firearms lost from Dagoretti police station have also been recovered.
“Apart from the items stolen from Quickmart, we also recovered so many others that we believe were gotten from small shops and vendors which is very unfortunate. We thank members of the public for cooperating with our officers in this exercise,” said Kemei.
Besides the looted goods, security personnel also recovered from Mbugua’s premises 42 litres of ethanol, fake Kenya Revenue Authority stickers and several cartons of adulterated alcohol in an operation in which police got crucial information from members of the public.
Kemei said a number of security officers injured while battling the protesters are hospitalized with various injuries including limb fractures while others were treated and discharged.
She warned the public against engaging in looting sprees or violence during demonstrations, saying the law will eventually catch up with the culprits.
“We want to send a strong warning to anyone who was involved in the massive looting that you have no space and you will not be enjoying the fruits of other people’s labour. We are coming for you,” she cautioned.
