Police have arrested a man in Nairobi after he was found with parts of the vandalised Dedan Kimathi statue, shocking city residents and Kenyans at large.
According to Nairobi County Government Protocol Officer Rodriques Lunalo, the suspect was intercepted on Sunday, October 12, 2025, while carrying a suspicious sack near Kimathi Street in the Central Business District.
Lunalo said county officers on routine patrol noticed the man acting suspiciously and decided to question him. Upon inspection, they discovered that the sack contained parts of the Dedan Kimathi statue, a monument honouring the Mau Mau freedom fighter.
“When we stopped him, we found a statue piece belonging to the Dedan Kimathi memorial. When asked where he got it, he claimed he found it lying on the ground,” Lunalo said.
He added that a special anti-vandalism squad formed under the Deputy Inspector of Police responded to the incident, and the suspect is now being held at the Central Police Station for further questioning.
The vandalism has sparked outrage among Nairobi residents, many of whom have condemned the act as disrespectful to Kenya’s history and heroes. Locals have urged authorities to boost security around monuments and install CCTV cameras to deter future attacks.
The Nairobi County Government has assured the public that restoration work on the Dedan Kimathi statue will begin soon and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting cultural and historical landmarks across the city.