Police: We have so far arrested 225 protesters
By Aloys Michael, May 18, 2026At least 225 people have been arrested in Nairobi and other parts of the country following protests over rising fuel prices, with police describing the demonstrations as unlawful and disruptive to public order and the economy.
Authorities say the unrest, which began as street protests, quickly escalated into violent confrontations marked by road blockages, destruction of property, and attacks on police officers. According to law enforcement, the situation forced a strong security response across affected areas.
Nairobi Regional Police Commander Issa Mohamud, during a press briefing on Monday, May 18, 2026, confirmed the scale of arrests and indicated that those detained would face multiple charges linked to the chaos.
“We have 225 arrests so far. We will charge them with serious offences, economic sabotage, and so many things, and the malicious damage of police vehicles. So, they will face serious consequences of the law,” he revealed.
He further questioned the legality of the gatherings, insisting that they were not properly notified and therefore could not be considered lawful demonstrations.
“We were not notified; we were not aware, so we were not notified in advance. It was not peaceful, it was armed, so it was illegal,” he said.
Mohamud described how parts of the city were affected when protesters allegedly blocked major roads using makeshift barriers, disrupting traffic and public order.
“They started blocking roads using blocks, rocks and boulders, thus disrupting public order, interfering with the rights of others and other road users, which is illegal and amounts to a breach of the law.”
He added that the disruptions extended beyond traffic, impacting businesses, transport systems, and essential services. Police have classified these effects as economic sabotage, arguing that the wider damage affected livelihoods across the capital.
“There was deliberate obstruction of transport networks and disruption of businesses, and all this constitutes economic sabotage. This constitutes economic sabotage because it is affecting livelihoods and critical services in the capital city,” he stated.
Security agencies also claimed they had intelligence suggesting that armed groups intended to exploit the unrest for criminal activity.
“We had credible intelligence that there were hired goons who will be armed with Korean weapons who want to exploit the situation. They wanted to exploit the situation, to loot supermarkets and shops, destroy private and public properties, and cause malicious damage and incite others,” the Nairobi police boss said.
Police maintain that officers were deployed under strict instructions to restore order and protect infrastructure, while also ensuring that public spaces remained accessible during the unrest.
The commander dismissed the idea that the gatherings were peaceful protests, instead characterising them as coordinated criminal activity.
“It was not a protest. It was a riot, and with the intention to loot. Nairobi will not be held hostage by lawlessness, and we will not allow criminals to hijack public space or intimidate citizens or destroy properties.”
Mohamud also pointed to global fuel market pressures as a contributing backdrop to public frustration, while arguing that such issues cannot be resolved through violent action.
“When the issue of oil is a global phenomenon, it is not unique to Kenya. Global oil prices have increased as global oil supply has reduced, while demand remains high, pushing prices upwards. These decisions cannot be solved through an unlawful or riotous mob,” he remarked.
He confirmed that six police officers were injured during the clashes, and that both police and civilian vehicles were damaged in the course of the unrest.