The National Police Service has flagged as fake a notice purporting that there has been an increase in the number of foreigners infiltrating protests.
Taking to X on Monday, July 7, the police refuted claims of being behind the notice, which has been circulating on social media, purporting that 122 foreigners of different nationalities had been arrested while protesting in the last two nationwide protests.
"This press statement circulating on social media, purporting to be issued by the Spokesperson of the National Police Service, is fake," the accompanying text warned.
Although not published on the NPS' official page, the notice bore the signs of a regular notice from the institution, including its logo, font style and even a signature by its spokesperson, Muchiri Nyaga.
The fake notice claimed that most of the foreigners arrested were Burundians at 26, followed by South Sudan and Rwanda at 19 and 18, respectively.
Other nationalities mentioned in the fake notice were 17 Somalis, 12 Congolese, 9 Nigerians, 7 Ugandans, 3 Yemenis and 11 stateless ones.
A few weeks ago, an immigrant was captured on camera brandishing a machete at an anti-riot police officer during protests in London area, Nakuru county.
After the clip went viral, the man was identified as a Ugandan national and ultimately arrested.
Confirming the arrest, Nakuru Town West Sub-County Police Commander Stephen Kirui said that he would be charged with being in Kenya illegally, robbery, stealing, incitement, and breaking and entering.
However, the police have not confirmed arrests of any other foreigners caught protesting in Nairobi, although several Kenyans have been arrested over the same in the past few days.
Since the June 25 commemorative protests, the police have been rounding up youths across the country, including in Nairobi, Nyandarua, and Embu, over different charges, including looting.
Three of those arrested were later identified as human rights activists, eliciting public uproar and calls for their release. Last week, they were released on a cash bail of Ksh200,000 each, awaiting their next hearing on July 23.
