How intelligence-led operation saved Nairobi city from “total havoc”

NAIROBI—The country was forewarned about the unprecedented destruction of property, deaths witnessed on Wednesday last week in Nairobi and parts of Central region.

This is in sharp contrast with allegations made by a section of political leaders that the State failed to stop the mayhem.

In an interview with NTV on Friday, two days after the youth-led protests, Rigathi Gachagua refuted claims that he or any political actor could have masterminded and coordinated activities, asserting that the Gen Z movement is “leaderless, tribeless and has no structure.”

Thousands took to the streets to commemorate last year’s youth-led demonstrations against tax rises, during which at least 60 people were killed by security forces, according to rights groups. On Wednesday, 16 deaths were reported as a result of the protests as businesses in Nairobi suffered millions in losses.

However, on two different occasions leading up to the protests, the Director General of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) Noordin Haji cautioned Kenyans against the danger posed by the misuse of social media, saying it posed “a significant threat to national security.”

According to several sources within the security agencies who spoke to Kulan Post on condition of anonymity, the National Police Service was put on high alert ahead of the Wednesday protests.

“We received actionable intelligence that some political figures had planned to infiltrate the protests and cause havoc in the city under the guise of being Gen-Z demonstrators,” a top officials in the police said.

The goons, according to the highly placed official, were to make a foray into the city, burn government installations, assimilate into the demonstrations and steer the protesters to martch to State House.

However, acting on the intelligence, the police prevented “the well organised criminals to access the city through Thika Road, Langata Road and Mombasa Road.”

After a daylong battle with the orgernised goons, the police successfully thwarted the plan to access the city.

Instead, the highly-charged goons descended on local government installations such as police stations, burning of county government vehicles and as well as a court in Kiambu.

“Those were not peaceful protesters. They were terrorist,” Martha Koome, the head of the Judiciary and Chief Justice, said after assessing the damages done on the Kiambu Law Courts.

Several leaders in both the Senate and the National Assembly have called for the arrest of Rigathi Gachagua, linking him to the mayhem.

The Director of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Mohamed Amin said on Monday that the former Deputy President may face the law if found culpable. Gachagua has not condemned the Wednesday incident.

“He does not enjoy any immunity from prosecution. If in our investigations he is found to have aided or abetted any criminal activity, then appropriate action will be taken,” Amin stated.

Social Media and National Security and Stability 

Speaking at the Mashariki Cooperation Conference and a symposium organized by the National Intelligence Research University (NIRU), Haji highlighted how social media and artificial intelligence (AI) amplify disinformation and misinformation, which can destabilize the country.

He specifically linked the spread of false narratives to the June 2024 Gen Z protests, which began as demonstrations against proposed tax laws but were allegedly infiltrated by political elements aiming to undermine the government.

“Let’s unite against modern threats born of technological disruption, digital misinformation, and transnational crime,” NIS boss Noordin Haji tells over 52 head of intelligence agencies at a Naivasha conference pic.twitter.com/e9BLaJdURZ

— Kulan Post (@kulanpost) April 5, 2025

Haji emphasized the need for a balance between free speech and national security, noting that misinformation can be exploited by criminal groups and external actors to incite unrest.

“The recent developments, particularly Gen-Z protests, demonstrated the destabilising effects of digital activism, which tested our political, economic and security resilience,” the NIS boss stated.

What Happened on Wednesday?

In Nairobi, business owners reported destruction and loss of merchandise during the unrest that left several buildings set on fire.

The United Nations said Thursday it was “deeply concerned” by violence during protests in Kenya which left at least 16 dead and others with injuries, calling for calm and restraint.

Wednesday’s rallies began peacefully but descended into chaos as young men held running battles with police, lit fires and ripped up pavements to use as projectiles

Social Media Activism A Global Challenge 

The debate on the threat posed by the spread of false narratives on social media is not a challenge to Kenya’s national security affairs afterall. In Canada, policymakers and think-tanks have raised similar alarm in the North America nation.

Michael Karanicolas, an associate professor and the Palmer Chair in Public Policy & Law at Dalhousie University has called for more regulatory action on social media platforms, saying most of the applications are owned by foreigners, giving governments less options to regulate it.

“It is puzzling that our leaders have allowed the social media space, which is a critical source of news and information for many, especially younger ones, to be almost entirely controlled by foreign companies,” Michael noted in an article on the Policy Actions.

A spot check by Kulan Post indicates that several posts on X and TikTok were AI-generated. An image generated by a popular Kenya blogger Minicheps was doing rounds on social media. Some social media users have also targeted Kulan Post as part of the disinformation campaign.

FAKE POST ALERT: This poster bearing our brand identity is doing rounds on social media. Kindly ignore. For verification, follow our social media platforms for latest, accurate updates. pic.twitter.com/w2zDI777G4

— Kulan Post (@kulanpost) June 25, 2025