Three arrested over arson, looting of Magunas supermarket during Saba Saba protests in Meru
Detectives also allege that the trio was involved in break-ins and theft at Club Seven Eleven Lounge and Selelite Supermarket during the same wave of unrest.
Three suspects believed to be behind the arson and looting of Magunas supermarket in Meru County during the Saba Saba protests have been arrested.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the suspects—Ian Mugambi, Abdulatif Murithi, and Teddy Kaimenyi—were captured on CCTV footage looting the supermarket before setting it ablaze.
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Detectives also allege that the trio was involved in break-ins and theft at Club Seven Eleven Lounge and Selelite Supermarket during the same wave of unrest.
“The suspects are currently in custody, undergoing processing as we prepare to arraign them. Efforts to trace and arrest more suspects involved in these incidents are ongoing,” DCI said in a statement on Sunday.
Detectives also confirmed the recovery of a dark green motorcycle, registration number KMGN 839F, believed to have been used during the attacks.
The July 7 protests, initially organised as part of a nationwide call for reforms, spiralled into chaos in Meru Town, where demonstrators vandalised property and disrupted services. Among the hardest-hit establishments was Magunas Supermarket, which was looted and later set on fire.
Eyewitnesses reported a mob storming the supermarket, clearing shelves before torching the building. A Meru County fire engine was dispatched to the scene but was forced to withdraw after running out of water and facing hostility from protesters.
Nearby, Club Seven Eleven—a popular entertainment spot—was also raided, with vandals stealing equipment and damaging property.
Condemning the destruction, Meru Governor Isaac Mutuma said the unrest had cost the county more than 5,000 jobs, most of which were held by youth and vulnerable families.
“These are not just statistics, they are lives, dreams, jobs and futures interrupted,” the governor said.
Mutuma added that while the right to peaceful assembly is protected under the Constitution, the destruction amounted to criminal acts and political sabotage.
“These actions were designed to destabilise the economy, create fear, and tarnish the good name of Meru County,” he said.
Meanwhile, President William Ruto has cautioned that the ongoing unrest linked to Gen Z-led protests is tarnishing Kenya’s reputation both locally and internationally.
Speaking in Elgeyo Marakwet during the commissioning of the Tirwane-Tirone irrigation project, Ruto said some foreign investors have withdrawn their commitments due to the nationwide chaos.
“We say we want peace. It’s the only way we can move forward as a country because this chaos is damaging Kenya’s reputation worldwide. These chaotic people are even sending away the investors I have gone to find because they do not know where this war is leading,” Ruto said.
He urged parents to speak to their children about the dangers of violent protests and the importance of national unity.
The President also reiterated that the government will not tolerate lawlessness, and anyone found engaging in violence will face legal consequences.
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