A newly surfaced video has sent shockwaves across the country, appearing to capture police officers actively participating in the arson attack that gutted Magunas Supermarket during recent protests in Makutano, Meru County.
The footage, which has gone viral on X (formerly Twitter), has ignited widespread outrage and raised serious questions about the integrity of law enforcement during times of civil unrest.
The video shows a police lorry arriving at the scene where a small, contained fire was burning beneath a makeshift luggage bay directly under the supermarket.
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Moments later, over five uniformed officers, accompanied by a man in plain clothes, appear to carry out a coordinated operation.
Some of the officers are seen throwing stones at the supermarket’s lower-level windows, breaking them and exposing the interior to the fire below. Others act as lookouts, seemingly guarding the operation.
The most alarming moment comes when the plain-clothed man is seen lifting a flaming rod and entering the supermarket’s main entrance. He returns seconds later without it.
Shortly afterward, flames erupt from inside the building, rapidly consuming the structure.
The group is then seen walking away from the scene without urgency, even as the supermarket begins to burn uncontrollably.
The footage contradicts earlier government claims that protesters were responsible for the fire.
With top officials blaming demonstrators for looting and destruction during the Saba Saba protests, the video has introduced a troubling counter-narrative—one that suggests state involvement in escalating chaos for political ends.
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Public reaction has been swift and furious. Kenyans on social media are demanding accountability and transparency, with many tagging the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), calling for immediate action.
Comments have ranged from disbelief and anger to deep skepticism about the government’s sincerity in addressing police brutality and impunity.
“This is not just shocking—it’s criminal,” one user posted. “How do you burn down a supermarket while in uniform and walk away like nothing happened?”
The video has added to growing public resentment following recent deaths of civilians in police custody, including blogger Albert Ojwang and protester Julie Njoki.
Both cases remain under investigation, but many fear justice will not be served.
As the country grapples with this latest scandal, attention now turns to the authorities. Neither the DCI nor IPOA has issued a statement on the matter as of Friday evening.
However, pressure is mounting for them to act decisively, with human rights groups warning that failure to investigate the video’s claims could erode public trust even further.
In a nation already simmering with frustration, the silent, casual departure of officers from a scene they may have helped set ablaze is more than symbolic—it’s a glaring call for accountability.
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