NAKURU — A Ugandan national seen on video charging at police officers with a machete during protests in Nakuru has been arrested, Kenyan authorities confirmed on Thursday.
The man, identified as Hassan Mtimkavu, also known as Paul Ositi, was captured on film on Monday swinging the weapon during chaotic scenes in the city’s London Estate. He was protesting the police shooting of Daniel Nderitu, a 35-year-old local resident, whose death has ignited public anger.
Police say Mtimkavu was found hiding in a local residence and arrested on Tuesday. But shortly after being taken into custody, he reportedly complained of illness and was taken under guard to Nakuru County Teaching and Referral Hospital.
“He feigned illness upon arrest,” said Nakuru Town West Police Commander Stephen Kirui. “He is currently admitted at the Level Four hospital, under police watch.”
The suspect is expected to face several charges, including entering Kenya illegally, incitement to violence, robbery, and break-ins linked to the looting and destruction that followed the protests.
Mtimkavu is said to have been part of a crowd demonstrating over the police shooting of Nderitu, who was killed last week during what authorities described as a raid targeting a suspected drug dealer in the area.
Police claim that officers were confronted by residents during the operation, sparking a confrontation in which Nderitu was shot dead. His killing has since led to days of unrest in Nakuru, with angry residents accusing the police of excessive force and demanding justice.
The scenes turned violent. Roads were blocked, tyres set alight, and some businesses looted. The video of Mtimkavu brandishing the machete spread quickly on social media, fuelling debate about the conduct of both protesters and police.
In a statement on Friday, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen defended the police, warning Kenyans against what he described as growing hostility towards law enforcement.
“We will not waiver,” Murkomen said. “It does not matter what people say. Our duty is to keep people safe, and we will do that. While we hold the police accountable, we must also hold civilians accountable.”
His comments have drawn mixed reactions, with rights groups urging restraint and calling for impartial investigations into police conduct during the Nakuru operation.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), a civilian body that investigates police misconduct, has confirmed it is looking into the incident that led to Nderitu’s death.
The case now sits at the centre of broader concerns about policing in Kenya particularly in low-income urban areas where police operations often end in tragedy.
As the investigations continue, Mtimkavu remains in custody. Police say more arrests are likely in the coming days as they try to identify other individuals involved in the violence.
What began as a protest over one man’s death is now a test of how the state balances law enforcement with public accountability and how it treats those who dare to speak out.
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