A Kibera court has allowed police to detain three suspects for 10 days as investigations continue into the violent disruption of a meeting at All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi.
The suspects - George Omondi Otieno, Effenburg Wanyama Khisa and Melvin Alumasa Bwani - will remain in custody at Kibra Police Station to enable detectives to complete investigations into alleged participation in an organised criminal group, conspiracy to commit a felony and other offences that may be disclosed during the probe.
According to court documents filed by investigators from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) based at Kilimani, the incident occurred on June 12, 2026, when about 200 boda boda riders allegedly stormed All Saints Cathedral in Kilimani and disrupted an ongoing meeting.
Police told Chief Magistrate Stella Atambo that the group caused panic, destruction and a breach of peace within the church compound.
Investigating officer PC Carrey Odhiambo said officers who responded to the incident were overwhelmed by the crowd and were forced to fire warning shots into the air to disperse the mob and restore order.
The DCI informed the court that preliminary investigations indicate the disturbance was organised and coordinated by several individuals acting together.
"The respondents were positively identified through CCTV footage retrieved and analysed by forensic experts from the National Forensic Laboratory, DCI Headquarters, which captured them participating in the violent disturbance," the officer stated in an affidavit.
Investigators further told the court that a Boxer motorcycle, registration number KMFH 161S, believed to have been used during the incident, was recovered during the suspects' arrest. Several mobile phones were also seized and preserved for forensic examination.
According to the DCI, the phones are expected to provide crucial evidence on communication records, coordination, movement patterns, financial facilitation and possible links to other suspects who remain at large.
Police argued that releasing the suspects at this stage could jeopardise investigations, interfere with witnesses and compromise ongoing forensic analysis.
The court heard that investigators are still analysing CCTV footage, extracting data from the seized mobile phones, tracing key witnesses and identifying additional suspects captured on surveillance footage.
The DCI also claimed that intelligence gathered so far links the three suspects to an organised criminal gang known as "Chini ya Mnazi", which investigators believe played a role in planning and executing the disturbance.
Investigators said they require more time to conduct criminal profiling, establish the gang's structure and operational networks, and pursue other suspects connected to the incident.
The matter will be mentioned after the expiry of the 10-day detention period for further directions on the investigations and possible charges.
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