At least 43 youths have been arrested in Isiolo as security agencies embarked on a crackdown on Saturday and Sunday.
County Commissioner Geoffrey Omoding told the media on Sunday that police were targeting drug peddlers, muggers, and illicit alcohol dealers in the county. Individuals loitering in the town past midnight were also nabbed.
The operation is part of a broader effort to restore order in Isiolo town which has in recent months been the subject of criminal activity.
According to the county commissioner, the operation is set to continue in the coming days despite a wave of criticism from Kenyans online over the circumstances surrounding how the individuals were arrested.
The entrance to Isiolo Law Courts
Judiciary
Notably, suspicious Kenyans were skeptical about the timing of the arrest, which came hours after a video emerged showing a section of youth jeering President William Ruto during his Isiolo tour.
The youths’ jeers were so loud that it took the intervention of Governor Abdi Guyo, who urged the crowd to show respect to the president.
Reports have since emerged claiming the arrests, which started on Friday night, were targeting youths who heckled the President.
However, Omoding told media the crackdown was prompted by Ruto’s directive to security agencies in Isiolo to curb cross-border trafficking or drugs.
“I am aware that drug dealers have sent the youth to come and cause a disturbance at this meeting. Be warned young people, you cannot threaten the government. A foreigner cannot come and turn Isiolo into a drug den,” The President said on Friday during his last day of the North Eastern region tour.
Confirming some of the arrests, Law Society of Kenya President Faith Odhiambo told Kenyans.co.ke that some of the individuals were nabbed by authorities on Saturday.
“Mohamed Kheir, Gollo Kashane, Denis Kikuvi, Harrison Mwaniki, and Mohammed Abdullahi were arrested yesterday in Isiolo Town and detained at DCI offices until late in the evening,” she confirmed, adding that the individuals were transferred to Subuiga Police Station.
“We are yet to ascertain more information from our advocates working at Isiolo Town. There was a larger number of over 40 arrested but (we are) waiting for feedback on the status,” she added noting that her team was working on the matter.
Meanwhile, elders from the Somali Community have apologised to the President after the heckling incident.
The elders led by Abdulkadir Shariff the chairperson of the Somali Council of Elders, announced that they were not happy with the heckling that the President received in the area.
President William Ruto addressing residents of Mandera County from the roof at the Moi Stadium on February 4, 2025.
PCS