NAIROBI, Kenya –The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has launched investigations into the armed hooded men who unleashed violence during the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, saying all those who planned, financed, incited or participated in the attacks will be brought to justice regardless of their status or political affiliation.
The probe comes days after masked gunmen, armed with rifles and tear-gas launchers, were captured moving through Ol Kalou in convoys of Toyota Prado SUVs, attacking journalists, voters and residents as panic gripped the constituency during the July 16 poll.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the DCI said detectives were actively pursuing all credible leads through forensic examinations, analysis of digital evidence, witness interviews and other investigative processes to identify and apprehend those responsible.
“The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has launched investigations into incidents of violence and disruption reported during the Ol Kalou by-election, including the involvement of armed and hooded individuals,” the agency said.
The DCI said investigations would target not only those who carried out the attacks but also individuals who may have planned, financed or incited the violence.
“The DCI affirms that all persons found to have planned, financed, incited or participated in the criminal acts will be brought to justice. No individual will be exempt from the due process of the law on account of status, position or political affiliation,” the statement added.
Armed Convoys
The announcement follows widespread outrage over scenes witnessed during the by-election, where groups of hooded men in civilian clothing moved from one polling station to another in Toyota Prado SUVs.
The men were armed with rifles and tear-gas launchers and were filmed firing tear gas to disperse crowds. Other videos captured gunshots being fired into the air, sending voters and residents fleeing for safety.
Several journalists covering the election were assaulted, threatened and robbed of cameras and mobile phones during the attacks.
Witnesses also questioned the registration plates carried by some of the Prado SUVs, with reports alleging that some vehicles bore concealed, disputed or suspected cloned number plates. Those claims are now expected to form part of the ongoing investigations.
The violence drew national attention after videos circulated online showing uniformed police officers standing at a distance as the armed men operated around polling stations.
Murkomen Ordered Investigations
The DCI probe follows a directive by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, who ordered investigations into the incidents and said anyone found culpable should face the law irrespective of their political connections.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) also distanced itself from the armed men, saying they were not part of the official election security arrangements and that election security remained the responsibility of the National Police Service.
Human rights groups and media organisations condemned the attacks, describing them as a threat to democratic elections and press freedom.
Public Asked to Volunteer Information
The DCI has appealed to members of the public with information that could assist the investigations to share it confidentially through the #FichuaKwaDCI toll-free line 0800 722 203 or via WhatsApp on 0709 570 000.
The agency said it would continue working with other units of the National Police Service and relevant institutions to investigate all electoral offences and ensure those responsible are prosecuted.
The Ol Kalou by-election was eventually won by Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) candidate Sammy Kamau Waweru, who defeated United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate Samuel Muchina Nyaga by a wide margin, but the violence that overshadowed the poll has continued to attract national scrutiny as investigators seek to establish who was behind the armed squad.
