Nakuru Bunge la Mwananchi speaker arrested over alleged incitement

A Nakuru-based Bunge la Mwananchi speaker is in police custody after detectives arrested him over alleged incitement and hate speech linked to the 2027 General Election, following the circulation of a viral video.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said on Saturday, June 13, that detectives from Nakuru West arrested 52-year-old Isaiah Murithi Andrew in the Shabab area after he was linked to the widely circulated footage.

According to the DCI, the suspect was apprehended following investigations into the video, which had gained traction online due to its alleged inflammatory content.

The suspect is said to be a self-proclaimed traditional healer and serves as a speaker in a local Bunge la Mwananchi, a grassroots public forum movement.

In the video, he is allegedly seen making inflammatory remarks, calling for unlawful assembly, and issuing threats of violence ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The remarks, authorities said, raised concern over their potential to incite tension and undermine public safety.

The DCI said the statements in the video prompted swift action from detectives in Nakuru West, who traced and arrested him.

“In the video, Andrew is seen inciting unlawful assembly by threatening armed violence and calling for resistance against authority. These statements attracted the attention of law enforcement agencies due to their inflammatory nature, raising significant concerns about public safety.”

He is currently in police custody, where he is being processed and interrogated as investigations continue.

The DCI has, in recent months, intensified its crackdown on online content deemed to promote hate speech or incitement, warning that individuals found engaging in such conduct will be held accountable under the law.

The arrest comes amid heightened sensitivity around political discourse ahead of the 2027 General Election, with security agencies closely monitoring public statements and online activity that could threaten peace and stability.

Authorities have urged members of the public to exercise restraint in their speech, particularly on digital platforms, to avoid fueling tensions or spreading inflammatory messages.