Key suspect linked to violent Saba Saba Kitengela hospital attack arrested

A group of suspected goons was seen invading Kitengela subcounty hospital on the evening of July 7, 2025. /SCREENGRAB

Police have arrested a key suspect in the July 7 attack on Kitengela subcounty hospital that disrupted an active surgery, endangered lives, and left parts of the public health facility in ruins.

The suspect, identified through CCTV footage, was apprehended in connection with the Monday evening invasion and malicious destruction of property during the Saba Saba protests.

"Following his arrest, the suspect led our officers to his rented residence in Noonkopir, where a black Marvin cap and grey jacket—items he was seen wearing during the attack—were recovered," police said in a statement.

The man is now in custody as detectives pursue additional leads to apprehend more individuals involved in the attack.

The invasion, which sparked national outrage, occurred while medical staff were performing a delicate Caesarean section on a pregnant woman.

Armed goons stormed the operating theatre, disrupting the procedure and vandalising critical equipment.

They also set fire at the hospital gate and lit tyres outside the premises, plunging the facility into chaos and leaving patients and healthcare workers in panic.

Kajiado Medical Services and Public Health CEC Alex Kilowua said the group had brought in an injured person but turned unruly, intimidating medical personnel and disrupting the provision of emergency services at the hospital.

Operations at the Kitengela subcounty hospital on an ordinary day. /KNA

Medical associations and unions strongly condemned the attack.

The Kenya Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society (KOGS) termed it a “grave breach of medical ethics and patient rights,” warning that the lives of both the mother and her unborn child were placed in imminent danger.

The Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory Officers described the act as “barbaric, senseless, and primitive,” calling on authorities to urgently bring the perpetrators to justice.

Several healthcare unions have since threatened to suspend services in Kitengela unless healthcare workers and facilities are guaranteed full protection during future protests.

The arrest marks the first significant breakthrough in the case, as pressure mounts on police to ensure accountability for the violent disruption of healthcare services and destruction of public property during the recent wave of protests.