DCI Arrests Suspected Ring Leader Behind Yala Protests Violence in Ramula Operation

Police in Siaya County have arrested a man suspected of playing a key role in the violent demonstrations that rocked Yala on April 6, 2026, in an intelligence-led operation targeting individuals believed to have orchestrated the unrest.

According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), officers drawn from Gem Sub County acted on credible intelligence and raided a local drinking den in Ramula, where they apprehended the suspect identified as 30-year-old Silas Asitiba.

Investigators allege that Asitiba was a central figure in mobilizing and coordinating a group that later engaged in violent conduct during the demonstrations, including an attack on Ramula Police Post that resulted in extensive damage and disruption of services.

Security officials indicated that the suspect is believed to have been among the main planners who steered the protests into chaos, with authorities now pursuing additional individuals linked to the organization and execution of the unrest.

The DCI confirmed that Asitiba is currently in custody and undergoing processing as he awaits formal charges. He is expected to face several counts, including arson, assault, malicious damage to property, and incitement to violence.

Law enforcement sources described the arrest as a major breakthrough in ongoing investigations into the April incident, which left public property destroyed and heightened tension across parts of Yala and surrounding areas.

Authorities further revealed that the operation is still ongoing, with detectives intensifying efforts to track down other suspects believed to have financed, coordinated, and participated in the violent activities.

“We are pursuing additional individuals who were involved in planning and facilitating the chaos witnessed in Yala. All those responsible will be brought to justice,” a security official familiar with the investigation said.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations also cautioned members of the public against participating in unlawful demonstrations, emphasizing that while the Constitution guarantees the right to peaceful assembly, any deviation into violence will attract firm legal consequences.

In its statement, the agency warned that acts of vandalism, attacks on security installations, and hooliganism undermine public order and will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

“The right to picket is protected under the law, but once demonstrations turn into criminal activity, including destruction of property and attacks on police stations, the law will take its full course,” the DCI stated.

Residents of Ramula and nearby areas have been urged to cooperate with investigators as efforts continue to identify all those involved in planning and executing the violence.

Meanwhile, security has been heightened in Yala and surrounding regions to prevent further incidents, with police maintaining surveillance as investigations progress.