Isiolo, Kenya| A total of 43 youths have been arrested in Isiolo following a night crackdown targeting drug peddlers, muggers, illicit brew makers, and individuals deemed to be idling past curfew hours, Isiolo County Commissioner Geoffrey Omoding has confirmed.
According to Commissioner Omoding, the operation is part of ongoing efforts to restore law and order in the county.
However, the mass arrests have sparked widespread concern among residents, who claim that the police are indiscriminately targeting ordinary citizens under the guise of fighting crime.
Public Skepticism and Claims of Arbitrary Arrests
While the government insists the operation is necessary to curb crime and drug-related activities, many locals remain skeptical about the so-called “war on drugs.”
They argue that the number of those arrested is far higher than officially reported, with some estimating that over 100 people have been detained—many of whom have yet to communicate with their families.
Critics have also linked the crackdown to President William Ruto’s recent public declaration of a war against drug cartels. Residents claim that the directive has resulted in heavy-handed policing, with security forces targeting everyone without exception.
“The police were let loose on us by the president, and we are very unhappy about it. We elected this man with all our hearts, believing he would end the injustices we have suffered under previous administrations. Instead, he has turned out to be worse than all of them,” said one resident who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
Another resident likened the crackdown to an unofficial curfew. “It feels as though the government has imposed a curfew on us. If that is the case, they should announce it publicly so that citizens can plan in advance,” he lamented.
Allegations of Excessive Force and Human Rights Violations
The arrests in Isiolo central have also been linked to the ongoing security operation, dubbed ‘Operation Ondoa Jangili’, which has been marred by allegations of excessive use of force, unlawful detentions, and extrajudicial practices.
Reports indicate that security officers have resorted to brutal methods, including kidnappings and torture.
One particularly disturbing case involves a Mr. Abdikadir Tulla, who is the area chief of Malka Daka location, who is reportedly admitted to a medical facility in Isiolo in critical condition following an alleged assault by security forces.
Another chief from Kula Mawe was reportedly abducted by individuals believed to be security personnel, with his whereabouts still unknown.
In Biliko, Biliko Marara, Gafarsa, and Thiimma Aadho, where the bulk of the operations is happening, multiple cases of abuse have also been reported with security agents allegedly meting collective punishment on the residents.
A particular case involves the wife of Harun Guyo Huka, who was reportedly brutalized despite giving birth just a few days ago by being reportedly forced by the officers to roll on the ground and beaten(allegedly by the butt of a gun).
According to witnesses who didn’t wish to be identified, the officers had barged into the compound and demanded to know from the woman, whose name we were not authorized to reveal to the public, where her husband was to which she reportedly replied that she doesn’t informing them that they had separated.
The officers, reportedly not believing her story continued to brutalize her and left promising to return soon and ‘teach them a lesson.’
Women and Children Among Those Detained
Among those arrested are multiple women, including nursing mothers, who are currently being held at Isiolo Police Station under deplorable conditions.
Visitors who have accessed the facility describe it as a “landfill” due to the overwhelming stench emanating from the jail cells.
Some women who visited their loved ones were reportedly overcome with nausea, with some even vomiting from the unbearable conditions.
Concerns have also been raised about the treatment of detainees, with allegations that some of the arrested women were mistreated by security officers during and after their detention with some complaining of being denied even the decency of proper sanitation.
Some detainees reportedly complained to their loved ones that the officers harassed them demanding to know why they ‘heckled’ the president.
One woman reportedly even went ahead confess that she was unaware that the president was in the region at the time raising further questions about the manner in which police conducted the raids.
Silence from Leaders and Human Rights Organizations
Despite growing public outcry, elected leaders and elders’ councils in the region have remained conspicuously silent on the matter. Frustrated residents say their appeals for intervention have fallen on deaf ears.
“The silence from our leaders is deafening,” remarked one local. “We have called on them to speak out and intervene, but no one seems to care about what is happening to us.”
Human rights organizations, often vocal in other regions of Kenya, have also been criticized for what locals perceive as a lack of interest in the crisis unfolding in Isiolo.
Tensions Continue to Rise
The arrests and the manner in which the operation has been carried out have heightened tensions in Isiolo, with many residents now living in fear of further crackdowns.
Community members worry that unless action is taken, more people will continue to suffer under what they describe as a reign of terror by security forces.
ICBNews will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as new developments emerge.
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