Police arrest five suspects over phone thefts at chaotic ODM rally in Nairobi

Police arrest five suspects over phone thefts at chaotic ODM rally in Nairobi

A search conducted on the suspects led to the recovery of eight mobile phones believed to have been stolen from people attending the rally.

Police have arrested five people suspected of stealing mobile phones from members of the public during an ODM political rally at Jacaranda Grounds in Starehe, Nairobi, on Saturday.

In a statement, the National Police Service (NPS) said the suspects were arrested on Saturday evening following a swift operation by officers from Starehe Sub-County, who moved in after the group allegedly took advantage of the political gathering to rob unsuspecting attendees.

A search conducted on the suspects led to the recovery of eight mobile phones believed to have been stolen from people attending the rally.

“The suspects were placed in police custody awaiting arraignment, while the recovered mobile handsets were secured as exhibits,” NPS said.

The Service warned against the use of political gatherings as opportunities for criminal activities, saying it remained committed to maintaining law and order during public events.

The service urged members of the public to remain alert and report suspicious individuals or activities to the nearest police station or through its toll-free numbers, 999 and 911, the DCI hotline #FichuaKwaDCI on 0800 722 203, or WhatsApp number 0709 570 000.

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The rally at Jacaranda Grounds descended into chaos, forcing party leaders and supporters to scramble for safety as suspected goons stormed the main dais.

The gathering had been organised to mark the climax of the party’s month-long Mwezi wa Baba celebrations in honour of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, whose death the party was commemorating on its first anniversary.

The meeting, which attracted thousands of supporters, was expected to bring together senior party officials and elected leaders to celebrate Raila’s political legacy and reaffirm their commitment to ODM.

Among the prominent leaders associated with the gathering were Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga and National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed.

However, proceedings were disrupted when some aspirants reportedly attempted to access the main dais accompanied by their security personnel, triggering confrontations at the venue.

The situation worsened when unfamiliar individuals reportedly made their way onto the stage and grabbed the microphone as party leaders were introducing themselves.

One of the individuals who took the microphone was heard telling the crowd, “Msitoroke,” as confusion spread across the grounds.

Some leaders could also be heard using the public address system to urge thousands of supporters not to run as tensions continued to rise.

Police officers reportedly moved in to intervene, but the confrontation escalated into running battles, sending supporters and some leaders scrambling for safety. The rally eventually ended abruptly.

The circumstances surrounding the disruption, including the identities of the individuals who stormed the stage and what triggered the confrontation, remained unclear.

The incident unfolded against the backdrop of growing political disagreements within ODM over the party’s future direction ahead of the 2027 General Election.