Karua to Ruto: Do not take thugs to people of Mt Kenya
People’s Liberation Party (PLP), party leader Martha Karua has cautioned President William Ruto against allowing thugs and other criminal elements to take advantage of his weeklong Mt Kenya tour.
Addressing the press on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, Karua reprimanded the head of state, stating that thugs invaded his Nairobi development tour and left people counting losses.
She lamented over what she described as an irresponsible move by government operatives to mobilise crowds to cheer and accompany Ruto as his convoy snaked through different Nairobi estates.
As Ruto’s tour in the region progresses, Karua warned the head of state against allowing criminal elements to rob and cause havoc to the residents.
“As the Ruto regime prepares to invade Mt Kenya, they are already there; we have been hearing them on the radio, with their misguided brand of politics of ya tutatenga and tutaleta, and I heard him repeating the same words. We demand that common decency, basic courtesy, civility, and decorum—terms that appear unfamiliar to Ruto—replace their vile and violent brand, which they recently introduced in Nairobi,” Karua stated.
“We are cautioning him, do not take thugs to the people of Mt Kenya or to any people of this great country of ours. Go to the people without having to mobilise thugs, without having to bus people to go and clap for you,” she warned during the press conference where she was accompanied by Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, his DAP-K counterpart Eugene Wamalwa, and other opposition leaders.
Karua decried how motorists, pedestrians, and other businesspeople were robbed during Ruto’s tour in Nairobi, stating that police did not intervene on time.
She insisted that if such criminal activities are not condemned, they risk sinking the nation into anarchy during political tours and rallies.
DCI arrest persons of interest
Regarding incidents of criminal activities witnessed in the city during Ruto’s tour, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations made several arrests.
In a series of social media posts, DCI paraded several persons of interest, linking them to the muggings in the city. During the operation, they recovered a motorcycle and several mobile phones believed to have been stolen from city residents.
This was after Kenyans raised concerns over the unrest and a spike in criminal activities that was witnessed after Ruto’s rally in Mathare on March 11, 2025.
Groups of youths engaged in widespread looting and vandalism along major roads, including Thika Road, Juja Road, and Outer Ring Road. Motorists and businesses were targeted, leading to panic and disruption.
“In response to a disturbing series of attacks and robberies targeting innocent members of the public along Thika Highway on March 11, 2025, Police officers have launched a crackdown to apprehend and prosecute those responsible for these criminal acts and ensure public safety is restored. So far, John Junior Oginga, who was armed with a knife when he attacked and robbed an unsuspecting individual of an Oppo A77S mobile phone valued at Ksh28,000, was arrested,” DCI’s statement read in part.
“Oginga was apprehended along Thika Highway and was escorted to Pangani Police Station. Jared Nyanza, Darlin Lande, Daniel Okombe, Mike Robert, Elvis Otieno, Reagan Omondi and Mathenge Gachiri, who are among a group of ten who robbed members of the public of their phones and other valuables in Mathare Area 4 were arrested. The suspects were escorted to Muthaiga Police Station. Also recovered from their possession was seven brand-new shirts, believed to be stolen property.”
However, in his televised interview on Monday, March 31, 2025, Ruto assured Mt Kenya residents of adequate security during his tour. State House further dismissed claims that Mungiki was used to mobilise the people.
