12 arrested after blocking First Lady motorcade in Siaya
Law enforcement officers in Siaya arrested 12 suspects following a chaotic incident in which a group of rowdy youth attempted to obstruct a convoy of dignitaries in Siaya town.
Among them was the First Lady Rachael Ruto.
The incident occurred, September 8, 2026, shortly after the conclusion of a women’s economic empowerment function held at the Siaya KMTC grounds.
As the convoy proceeded towards the designated landing and take-off site, a group of rowdy youth allegedly attempted to force their way through a secured gate, obstructing the convoy and hurling stones at police officers manning the entrance.
Police officers responded swiftly, restoring order and arresting 12 suspects believed to have been involved in the incident.
The suspects were detained pending arraignment, as detectives continue investigations with a view to bringing to book any other persons found to have been involved in the incident.
This is the latest such incident to happen amid ongoing trend where goons block roads for money.
The DCI reiterated that while citizens have the right to assemble and express themselves peacefully, violence, obstruction of lawful operations and attacks on police officers will not be tolerated.
Those who resort to disorder and violence will be held accountable in accordance with the law.
Meanwhile, what appeared to be an innocent TikTok connection allegedly became a sinister trap, as unsuspecting young women were lured into meetings before being gang-raped and robbed of their valuables.
A forensic trail has now led detectives from Ruai to three suspects believed to be behind the incidents, following actionable intelligence that put them firmly on the investigators’ radar.
Preliminary investigations have established that the suspects allegedly operated an anonymous TikTok page, using it to initiate contact with their victims and arrange physical meetings.
Once the women agreed to meet, they were allegedly led to secluded or abandoned areas, where what began as seemingly ordinary encounters turned into terrifying ordeals of sexual violence and robbery.
In some cases, the victims were allegedly forced to transfer money via M-Pesa to accounts controlled by the suspects, while others were robbed of their mobile phones and other valuables.
Following the trail, detectives descended on Benedicta area in Ruai, where they arrested the suspects.
Six mobile phones were recovered from the suspects, alongside two hooded jackets allegedly used to conceal their identities while committing the crimes.
The three suspects have since been positively identified by five victims in separate incidents reported in Buruburu, Embakasi and Ruai, strengthening the case against them and pointing to a potentially wider criminal network.
With the suspects behind bars, detectives are now connecting the dots, following the evidence trail and digging deeper into the alleged network while tracing other possible victims and pursuing additional individuals who may be linked to the gang.
The DCI cautioned members of the public, particularly young people, to be wary of strangers met online.
“Never let someone you have just met online lead you into a secluded or isolated place; meet in a safe, public setting and ensure someone you trust knows your whereabouts. In the digital world, not every friendly profile is what it appears to be; what looks like an innocent invitation can quickly become a deadly trap.”
