Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) arrested politician Bare Sahara Ahmed over remarks made in a viral social media video that authorities say could incite division and undermine national cohesion.
According to the DCI, the arrest followed a swift review of the footage, with investigators seeking to establish the full context and intent of the statements.
The suspect is currently in lawful custody and is expected to be arraigned in court.
This followed the circulation of a video in which she was captured inciting violence and retaliation over the killing of a taxi driver in Garissa earlier last week.
The five minutes clip also talked about religion and pushed for retaliation if police do not take action for justice in the killing of the driver.
Police believe her utterances could have incited the attack in Kitui and caused more chaos in Garissa. There were violent protests in Garissa on Friday.
Director of DCI Mohamed Amin said they detained the woman for grilling and possible arraignment.
He said she will be arraigned Monday for incitement among other charges.
“She has been arrested a short while ago and will be arraigned tomorrow for incitement to violence,” he said.
The woman was reacting to the shooting of a taxi driver at a roadblock in the area over smuggling of unaccustomed goods.
Amin said they are investigating the link between her remarks and the attack in Kitui that left seven people dead.
In a statement, the DCI reminded the public that while freedom of expression is protected under the Constitution, it must be exercised responsibly.
The DCI warned that any utterances likely to incite hatred, division, or threaten peaceful coexistence would attract firm legal action. Kenyans were also urged to remain calm and avoid sharing inflammatory content that could escalate tensions.
Meanwhile, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen condemned the recent deadly attack in Tseikuru, which left seven people dead, linking the violence to ongoing insecurity around the Kitui Game Reserve.
Murkomen said the government has deployed additional security personnel along the volatile Kitui–Tana River and Kitui–Garissa border areas to restore calm.
“We have a problem around the Kitui Game Reserve… we have deployed security officers to bring calm,” he said, adding, “These attacks must come to an end.”
The CS also issued a stern warning to individuals inciting communities to carry out retaliatory attacks, emphasizing that the government would take decisive action against them.
“I want to assure you that the government will take firm action against those inciting locals to fight,” he said.
Murkomen spoke during a church service at AIC Sogeon in Eldama Ravine, Baringo County.
Deputy Inspector General of Kenya Police Eliud Lagat visited the area as part of the probe into the attack.
The National Police Service (NPS) also strongly condemned a series of retaliatory attacks in Tseikuru Sub-county, Kitui County, that have left multiple people dead and heightened tensions between communities.
The attackers razed three shops, a petrol station and a motorcycle.
Following the daylight incident on Saturday, residents of Kwa Kamari and the surrounding areas have fled their homes, fearing further violence.
Police spokesman Michael Muchiri linked the violence to an escalating cycle of revenge attacks involving members of the local neigbouring communities.
According to the NPS, the violence began on March 29, 2026, when a 44-year-old herdsman was killed near Mwingi Game Reserve.
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