Man to face arson charges after viral WhatsApp video of him threatening to burn down Villa Police Station emerges
Sebastian Gitanga is now in custody at the Embakasi police station where the DCI is investigating a case of arson contrary to section 332 (a) of the Penal Code
Detectives attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) are holding a youthful man who allegedly posted a video of himself on WhatsApp ahead of the Saba Saba protests threatening to burn down Villa Police Station in Nairobi.
Sebastian Gitanga is now in custody at the Embakasi police station where the DCI is investigating a case of arson contrary to section 332 (a) of the Penal Code.
Gitanga was presented before Makadara Senior Resident Magistrate Praxedes Anduke who allowed DCI to detain the suspect for seven days only pending completion of investigations.
According to the charges, Gitanga indicated that he was among goons that raided the police station and burnt down several vehicles during the Gen Z protests on June 25 and threatened that they would be “re-visiting” the station during the Saba Saba protests.
Corporal Josephat Makai of Embakasi DCI offices filed an affidavit in court seeking custodial orders to detain the suspect for 14 days to aid in the investigations.
Cpl. Makai said on June 25, 2025, during the Gen Z protests, Villa police station experienced an encounter where seven goons burnt several vehicles within the police station yard and threatened to burn everything into ashes.
“On July 3, 2025 at around 1140hours, the respondent (Gitanga) shared a video on WhatsApp platform of himself claiming that they would “revisit” and burn the police station on July 7, 2025 on Saba Saba protests,” stated Cpl. Makai.
“Police officers who had been on a high alert acted swiftly and apprehended (Gitanga) within Mukuru kwa Njenga and who was placed in custody to help the police in further investigations.”
Makai said part of the investigations include authenticating the video with the Communication Authority of Kenya (CA) and recording statements of the witnesses.
DCI is also expecting that Gitanga will assist in apprehending other suspects who participated in burning the vehicles parked at the police station and attempting to burn the station.
