Police in Eldoret have arrested 72 people linked to violent scenes and looting during Wednesday’s Gen Z protests, which also left one person dead and several others injured, according to authorities.

Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Benjamin Mwanthi said the chaos unfolded across various parts of the city, with a police lorry and an ambulance damaged and several businesses, including a supermarket, broken into and looted.

“The violence was especially intense in areas along the Eldoret–Bungoma road, where incidents continued until as late as midnight on Wednesday,” Mwanthi said.

The fatality reported involved a man accused of theft by members of the public who attacked him in Eastleigh. He later died while undergoing treatment at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.

Among those arrested, five suspects are believed to have been involved in torching a police lorry in Huruma, along the Eldoret–Webuye highway. Mwanthi said many of those apprehended were caught in the act of looting or stealing from residents.

“Some of them had broken into Khetia’s Supermarket and were found looting, while others were arrested for stealing from members of the public,” he said.

Investigations are ongoing, and police say the suspects will be charged in court once the process is complete. Mwanthi added that the protests took officers by surprise, saying, “Initially, we had not received reports of planned demonstrations in the city, but the youth suddenly emerged and took to the streets.”

He warned that anyone found guilty of breaking the law would be held accountable. “Those found to have broken the law will face the consequences,” he said.

Meanwhile, religious leaders in the North Rift have appealed to the government to urgently initiate dialogue with the Gen Z movement. The clergy have called for a platform that will help ease tensions and bring an end to the destruction and violence witnessed across the country.