Two held over deadly chaos at Kindiki Embu meeting
Some of the vehicles which were set ablaze when chaos erupted during a meeting presided over by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki in Nembure, Embu County, on September12, 2026.
Two men accused of causing chaos that left two young men dead and six cars set ablaze during Deputy President Kithure Kindiki’s meeting in Embu were on Tuesday arraigned before an Embu court.
Brian Kariuki and Kelvin Mugendi were brought to court under tight police security and taken straight to the dock.
They were represented by lawyer Kariuki Njiiri, who sought their release on bond, arguing they were not a flight risk.
However, they could not plead to any criminal charges as the Directorate of Criminal Investigations ( DCI) told the court that the probe into the deadly chaos had not been completed.
Investigating officer John Lekaldero urged the court to allow the police to continue holding the suspects to enable completion of the investigations.
He told the court that the matter was of national interest as it touched on the security of the Deputy President.
"Releasing the suspects before the completion of the investigation steps may create a reasonable risk of interference with witnesses," said Mr Lekaldero.
He applied that the suspects be detained at Embu West police station until investigations were concluded.
Consequently, the Principal Magistrate Robert Mundia allowed the application and ordered that the suspects be held for five more days until September 23, when the matter will be mentioned.
The Court heard that on September 12, 2026, the United Democratic Alliance ( UDA) delegates had been invited to attend a meeting through text messages at Nembure Stadium when chaos erupted.
Some of the vehicles which were set ablaze when chaos erupted during a meeting presided over by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki in Nembure, Embu County, on September12, 2026.
The court was told that Prof Kindiki and Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire, the UDA national chairperson, attended the meeting.
The incident resulted in the death of two people, while the Deputy President had to be evacuated to safety, the court heard.
Only invited party members were allowed into the venue, with police officers manning the gate.
The meeting started well, but there were hundreds of people who had been locked outside the Stadium.
The court heard that the meeting temporarily halted after the crowd camping outside the Stadium turned unruly.
At one point, the youths attempted to storm the Stadium but were repulsed by the law enforcers.
The crowd embarked on burning vehicles parked along the Meru-Embu road.
Some of the damaged vehicles belonged to journalists, police and government officers.
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