Murkomen Confirms Arrests After Goons Storm All Saints Cathedral Meeting as DCI Hunts More Suspects
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has confirmed that arrests have already been made following the violent disruption of a meeting at Nairobi’s All Saints Cathedral, with detectives analysing CCTV footage to identify and track down additional suspects involved in the incident.
Speaking during a church service in Nairobi on Sunday, June 14, Murkomen strongly condemned the attack, describing it as “extremely unfortunate” and vowing that all those responsible would face the full force of the law.
The CS revealed that investigators from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) were reviewing surveillance footage captured at the church, which recorded the movements of the attackers before and during the chaos that unfolded on Friday.
“There was an unfortunate incident which happened at All Saints Church, and I must say that that was really extremely unfortunate and unacceptable,” Murkomen said.
“We know that they were captured on CCTV cameras. The DCI is already analysing that footage. One of them was arrested immediately, and a number are being arrested.”
He added that the government would not tolerate individuals or groups seeking to disrupt public gatherings through violence and intimidation, regardless of their political affiliations or ethnic backgrounds.
Murkomen’s remarks come amid mounting public outrage over the invasion of the historic cathedral by suspected goons who disrupted a post-budget forum organised by civil society groups.
The incident, which has sparked widespread condemnation from religious leaders, human rights organisations and political figures, has reignited concerns over politically linked violence and insecurity in the capital.
CCTV Footage Reveals Two-Wave Attack
Fresh details from CCTV footage released after the incident paint a troubling picture of how the attack unfolded.
According to footage captured by the church’s surveillance cameras, the attackers initially arrived on motorcycles and entered the church compound at approximately 9:39am.
Police officers on the scene reportedly managed to disperse the group, forcing them to retreat from the premises.
However, the confrontation did not end there.
Approximately 30 minutes later, at around 10:11am, the same individuals allegedly returned. This time, they abandoned their motorcycles and walked into the church compound on foot, seemingly avoiding detection.
The footage shows the group making its way toward the conference area where civil society representatives had gathered for discussions on the recently announced national budget.
Witnesses say the attackers stormed the meeting while chanting slogans, causing panic among participants and forcing organisers to abruptly end the forum.
Some attendees also reported being robbed during the commotion, with CCTV footage allegedly capturing some of the incidents.
The attack has raised serious questions about security preparedness and the apparent ability of the suspects to return shortly after being dispersed by law enforcement officers.
Government Vows Crackdown on Criminal Gangs
While addressing the congregation, Murkomen linked the incident to broader concerns about organised criminal gangs operating within urban centres and announced a renewed security offensive aimed at dismantling such networks.
The Interior CS said the government was intensifying efforts to eliminate gangs that have increasingly been blamed for violence, extortion and disruption of public events in several towns across the country.
“Our next phase of security operation is to exterminate this threat of gangs, and I want to promise the nation that with the Nairobi Metropolitan Police and with the efforts we have put in place to fight these gangs, we are going to succeed,” Murkomen stated.
He expressed confidence in the proposed Nairobi Metropolitan Police unit, saying it would focus exclusively on security challenges within the Nairobi metropolitan region and improve coordination among law enforcement agencies.
According to Murkomen, similar operations have already yielded positive results in towns such as Nakuru and Kitale, where authorities have reportedly managed to suppress criminal gang activity that had previously contributed to rising insecurity.
The government now faces increasing pressure to ensure those behind the All Saints Cathedral attack are swiftly brought to justice, as investigations continue and detectives pursue additional suspects captured in the surveillance footage.
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