Three more suspects have been arrested by detectives in connection with the violent invasion of All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi, where an ongoing meeting was forcefully disrupted.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) said the arrests were made following coordinated operations by officers drawn from Kilimani and the Nairobi Regional Office.
Acting on intelligence leads and supported by forensic analysis, detectives said they trailed and arrested George Omondi Otieno, Effenburg Wanyama Khisa, and Melvin Alumasa Bwani at various locations within Nairobi.
During the operation, detectives recovered a red Boxer motorcycle, registration number KMFH 161S, believed to have been used in the commission of the offence.
Additionally, mobile phones recovered from the suspects were also seized and secured for forensic examination to assist in the ongoing investigations.
“Investigations have since revealed that the attack was not the work of the three suspects alone,” DCI said.
Detectives added that they are actively pursuing more leads to establish the full extent of the criminal enterprise and identify and arrest all persons involved.
The three now join two other suspects earlier arrested in connection with the incident, bringing the total number to five, and they are undergoing processing pending arraignment.
DCI has assured the public that no effort will be spared in bringing all those responsible to justice.
“Places of worship are sanctuaries of peace and reflection, and any individual who seeks to violate their sanctity, threaten public safety or disrupt lawful gatherings will face the full force of the law,” the Authorities said.
Members of the public have been urged to share information that may assist in identifying or arresting the remaining suspects.
The development comes after one of the men allegedly hired to disrupt the meeting revealed that the operation was planned and later altered before execution.
Speaking to Citizen TV, he claimed the operation was linked to a sitting Member of Parliament and involved plain-clothes police officers who allegedly directed the group during the mission.
He said the recruits were initially told they would disrupt a political meeting linked to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, before instructions changed on the morning of the operation to target the cathedral meeting on the national budget.
The man narrated that once they arrived in the city centre, they were directed to the cathedral where civil society groups had gathered. He said plain-clothes officers took operational control and instructed them on movement and positioning.
“Kufika huko tukaingia na ma pikipiki, hao mapolisi tulikuwa nao wakasema hii inachoma,” he said, adding that they were later told to park motorcycles near a construction site thought to be outside CCTV coverage.
The plan reportedly collapsed after they noticed surveillance cameras, leading to confusion and escape without full payment.
He further claimed that such operations were not new to him, alleging that politicians regularly hire groups like theirs and sometimes encourage opportunistic theft during chaos.
Despite acting on instructions, he said some members of the group are now being pursued by police while others have already been arrested.
“Kama mtu alikuwa hapo hatukujua itakuwa hivyo mpaka saa hii polisi wanakimbizana na watu,” he said.
All Saints Cathedral Provost, Rev. Canon Evans Omollo, said the matter had been affected by political interference. He said one suspect was released after a phone call from individuals linked to the financiers, while two complainants whose phones were stolen were each paid Sh 24,000 to withdraw their reports.
“The said people who financed this stepped in to kill this case because of the publicity it has attracted,” Rev. Canon Omollo said.
“The guy was released. Two people whose phones were allegedly stolen and went to complain were reimbursed 24,000 each, so that this case is killed.”
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has condemned the disruption, terming it a violation of constitutional freedoms.
In a statement, KNCHR said the disruption of the civil society meeting violated Articles 32, 33, 36, and 37 of the Constitution, which protect freedom of conscience, expression, association, and peaceful assembly.
“Attacks on Places of Worship are a Violation of Freedom of Worship and Assembly,” the commission said.
KNCHR commended the police for their response and called for accountability for all those involved in planning, financing, organising, or executing the attack.
The commission urged young people to avoid involvement in unlawful activities and reaffirmed its commitment to monitoring investigations.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing as detectives pursue additional suspects and possible financiers linked to the attack.
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