Suspect in alleged hate video after Tseikuru attack detained for 10 days pending probe

Suspect Bare Sahara Ahmed at Kilimani Police Station on April 27, 2026 / HANDOUT

A woman reportedly captured in a viral video allegedly making hateful and inciteful remarks over the Garissa shooting has been detained for 10 days as investigations continue.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations secured a custodial order from the Chief Magistrate’s Court at Kahawa Law Courts in Nairobi to hold the suspect, Bare Sahara Ahmed, at Kilimani Police Station. The detention will allow investigators to complete enquiries into alleged hate speech and ethnic incitement.

The court also authorised forensic examination of digital evidence, including call data records and financial transactions, as part of efforts to establish the context and intent of the statements made in the widely circulated video.

According to investigators, the suspect was arrested on Sunday following a review of the footage, which allegedly shows her calling for retaliation after the fatal shooting of a taxi driver at a police roadblock in Garissa linked to suspected smuggling activities.

Authorities believe the remarks may have contributed to unrest, including violent protests reported in Garissa on Friday.

Police are further probing a possible connection between the suspect’s statements and a deadly attack in Kitui that left seven people dead.

In a statement, the National Cohesion and Integration Commission condemned the remarks, warning that freedom of expression under the Constitution does not extend to hate speech, incitement to violence, or propaganda for war.

The commission emphasised that all Kenyans have the right to live and work anywhere in the country without fear of discrimination or intimidation, adding that the arrest reflects a broader commitment by authorities to uphold national unity and the rule of law.

The suspect remains in lawful custody and is expected to be arraigned in court once investigations are complete. Authorities have urged the public to exercise responsibility in their communication and avoid statements that could incite division or violence.