At least 43 youths have been arrested in Isiolo as security agencies embarked on a crackdown over the weekend.
Talking to the media, the county Commissioner Geoffrey Omoding disclosed that police were targeting drug peddlers, muggers, and illicit alcohol dealers in the county.
Individuals loitering in the town past midnight were also nabbed.
According to the county commissioner, the operation is set to continue in the coming days despite a wave of criticism from Kenyans online over the circumstances surrounding how the individuals were arrested.
County Commissioner Geoffrey Omoding confirms 43 youths have been arrested in Isiolo. Photo: Courtesy.
The commissioner’s confirmation came after suspicious Kenyans were skeptical about the timing of the arrest, which came hours after a video emerged showing a section of youth jeering President William Ruto during his Isiolo tour.
There have been claims that the arrests, which started on Friday night, were targeting youths who heckled the President.
However, Omoding noted that the crackdown was prompted by Ruto’s directive to security agencies in Isiolo to curb cross-border trafficking or drugs.
“I am aware that drug dealers have sent the youth to come and cause a disturbance at this meeting. Be warned young people, you cannot threaten the government. A foreigner cannot come and turn Isiolo into a drug den,” The President said.
On the other hand, elders from the Somali Community have apologised to the President after the heckling incident.
Led by Abdulkadir Shariff the chairperson of the Somali Council of Elders, the elders noted that they were not happy with the heckling that the President received in the area.
