Police arrest suspected mobiliser linked to Yala demonstrations

Detectives in Gem Sub County have arrested a suspected mobiliser in connection with the violent demonstrations witnessed in Yala on April 6, 2026, following a targeted operation conducted on intelligence-led information.

According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), officers acted on intelligence to raid a local drinking establishment in Ramula, where the suspect was apprehended.

The arrest is part of ongoing investigations into incidents of public disorder that resulted in property damage and operational disruptions at Ramula Police Post.

Investigators indicate the 30-year-old suspect may have played a role in mobilising a group of individuals who were reportedly among those that took part in the demonstrations that later turned violent.

The DCI says the group is believed to have engaged in acts that are said to have escalated into criminal conduct, including destruction of property and confrontation with law enforcement officers.

"The suspect is currently in custody, undergoing processing, and is set to face a litany of charges, including: Arson, Assault, Malicious damage to property, Incitement to violence, among others," the agency stated.

Authorities have also confirmed that follow-up operations are underway to identify and apprehend additional individuals thought to have been involved in organising and supporting the unrest.

The DCI urged members of the public to remain calm and cooperate with law enforcement as investigations continue.

At the same time, the agency reiterated that while the Constitution guarantees the right to peaceful assembly and picketing, such rights must be exercised within the confines of the law.

"While the right to picket is constitutionally guaranteed, the transition into criminality, hooliganism, and the targeting of police installations will be met with the full force of the law," the agency said.

A tragic incident was reported after two people were shot dead during a clash between locals and police.

The group had been protesting the operations of a gold mining site in the area when they moved towards a local police station.

The situation turned violent and confrontational, leaving two protesters dead.

The incident occurred when a large group of youths—estimated at about 2,000—marched towards Ramula Police Post in what police described as an unlawful demonstration targeting the operations of Shanta Gold.

Police linked the protests to what they described as misinformation surrounding the mining operations.

The arrest comes hours after Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja warned of what he termed a growing wave of attacks targeting police officers and installations, vowing a decisive crackdown on perpetrators and their networks.

Kanja stressed that police stations remain critical institutions in maintaining law and order, noting that any attack on them undermines the broader security architecture.

“Police stations are not just buildings. They are the bedrock of public safety, emergency response and the first line of defence,” he said.

“To attack a police station is to attack the very security of the public it serves.”