Police issue update on 37 people arrested in connection with arson during June 25 protests
Police have issued an update on 37 people who were arrested in various parts of the country over arson witnessed during the June 25, 2025, protests to commemorate the 2024 Gen Zs who died during the demos.
In the update, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) stated that the 37 individuals had been arraigned before the Kahawa Magistrate’s Court.
You might also like
“A total of thirty-seven (37) suspects who committed terrorist acts under the guise of the June 25, 2025, protests have today been arraigned before the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Kahawa facing charges under the Prevention of Terrorism Act No. 30 of 2012, alongside additional counts including arson and malicious damage to government property,” DCI said in the statement.
Gen Z anniversary protest
Kawanjiru, the youth leader of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), was also arraigned, along with Serah Wanjiku Thiga, a former ally of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, and 35 Gen-Zers who participated in the recent protests.
“Of the 37 suspects, twenty-five (25) were apprehended in Kikuyu Town, Kiambu County, ten (10) were arrested in Matuu Town, Yatta Sub-County, Machakos County, and two (2) masterminds, Sarah Wanjiku Thiga and Peter Kinyanjui Wanjiru alias “Kawanjiru”, within Kiambu and Ruiru, respectively.”
“The court directed that all suspects be held at their respective police stations within Nairobi County, pending the outcome of a defence application scheduled for ruling on July 10, 2025,” DCI added.
Constitutional rights
Before Principal Magistrate Gideon Kiage Oenga, the 37 demonstrators were scheduled to enter a plea regarding the terrorist charges that the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) had brought against them.
The defence team, however, which was headed by Senior Counsel Kalonzo Musyoka, attorney Kibe Mungai, and Ndengwa Njiru, contested the prosecution’s choice to accuse their clients of terrorist crimes, arguing that their protests were simply an exercise of their constitutional rights.
“It is not possible for the prosecution to charge people with terrorist acts and say no we have not called protesters terrorists,” lawyer Mungai stated.
