Homa Bay police station/FILEAt least 40 youths suspected of participating in demonstrations against the arrest of a suspected gang leader have been arrested in Homa Bay County.
The arrests were made during police operations conducted between Friday and Monday.
The youths staged protests on Thursday night shortly after the suspected gang leader was arrested alongside seven others who allegedly attempted to block police from arresting him at Homa Bay bus stop.
The youths resumed their demonstrations on Friday morning, paralysing business activities in Homa Bay town.
Traders were forced to leave their business premises at Homa Bay Municipal Market and other shops in the central business district until police intervened a few hours later.
The business community suffered significant economic losses as many traders were forced to close their premises prematurely.
Some protesters allegedly took advantage of the demonstrations to break into business premises and loot goods, causing losses to traders.
The protesters also lit bonfires on roads and destroyed some street lights in Homa Bay town's central business district.
Police launched a crackdown on suspected offenders after containing the Friday morning demonstrations in an effort to restore order in the county.
Homa Bay County Police Commander Lawrence Koilem said police would not spare anyone found to have participated in acts that disrupted peace.
“These youths committed serious crimes of looting people’s property besides other damages. None of them will be spared,” Koilem said.
He urged residents to allow police to carry out investigations and deal with those suspected of committing crimes.
“We arrested some of the youth with pangas and other crude weapons. The crackdown will continue for the whole of this week to ensure all the criminals are arrested,” Koilem said.
The suspects are being held at Homa Bay Police Station and will be arraigned in court, according to the police commander.
Homa Bay County Directorate of Criminal Investigations officer Jimmy Kisobo said the suspected gang leader was arrested over two offences.
The first relates to his alleged failure to appear in court after he was arrested and released on cash bail in early August.
“There was a time we arrested him over an assault, and he was released on cash bail on condition that he would report to court. But he did not do so until the court issued an arrest warrant,” Kisobo said.
The failure to appear in court led to the issuance of an arrest warrant against the suspect.
The second offence relates to violence reported during the Linda Mwananchi rally on August 16, which led to the destruction of Homa Bay Tourist Hotel ahead of the event.
