Tension gripped Dagoretti on Wednesday night after angry protesters torched the local police station in one of the most brazen attacks during the ongoing anti government demonstrations.
According to police sources, a mob stormed the station shortly after 10 p.m., overwhelmed officers on duty, and set the entire compound ablaze. Seven police vehicles were completely destroyed in the inferno, and five firearms are reported to have been stolen from the station’s armoury.
Witnesses say the attackers arrived in waves, hurling stones and petrol bombs. “They broke through the gates shouting and chanting. Within minutes, everything was on fire,” said a resident who watched the chaos from a distance.
The fire raged for over an hour before firefighters arrived, by which time much of the station had been reduced to ashes. No casualties were reported, but the destruction is massive.
Security agencies have since launched a manhunt for the suspects and recovery efforts for the stolen weapons. “This was not just vandalism. It was an orchestrated attack on a security installation. We will not allow this to go unpunished,” said Nairobi Police Commander Adamson Bungei.
The incident has sparked fears of escalating lawlessness as protests continue to spiral out of control in several parts of the country. Human rights groups have called for restraint on both sides, warning that the situation could deteriorate further if dialogue is not pursued.
Residents of Dagoretti now live in fear as the visible presence of police has diminished. “If thugs are stealing guns from police stations, what protection do we have?” asked one shopkeeper.
Authorities have appealed for calm, urging the public to provide any information that could lead to the recovery of the stolen weapons and arrest of the culprits.
By Kenyans