The iconic statue of Kenyan freedom fighter Dedan Kimathi, located at Uhuru Park, was reported missing on October 12, 2025.
Although it was later recovered, it had been severely vandalized, with key parts including the head damaged.
Police have confirmed the arrest of a suspect believed to be responsible for the incident.
He is currently being held at Central Police Station after allegedly attempting to flee while carrying the statue’s bronze head.
City enforcement officers, known locally as kanjo, said the suspect was apprehended shortly after being filmed parading through Nairobi’s Central Business District with the statue’s head in a sack.
The video quickly went viral on social media, sparking nationwide outrage.
Rodriques Lunalo, a protocol officer who witnessed the arrest, described the dramatic moment.
“We saw him carrying a sack. After following him, we discovered it was the head of the Dedan Kimathi statue,” Lunalo said.
He confirmed that the man is in custody and is expected to appear in court on Monday.
The statue, unveiled in 2007, stands as a tribute to Dedan Kimathi, a leader of the Mau Mau resistance against British colonial rule during the 1950s.
For nearly two decades, it has symbolized Kenya’s struggle for freedom and the enduring spirit of independence.
Public Outcry and Reactions
The desecration of the monument has triggered widespread condemnation from the public, with many expressing anger and concern over the security of national heritage sites.
“He did all that and walked through the CBD? And no police stopped him? That says a lot about the insecurity in the city,” posted Bonventure Nalugala on X (formerly Twitter).
Yussuf Omar Dakane questioned the circumstances leading up to the act, asking, “This is a huge shame. What actually led to this happening?”
Another user, @Marc_Macuda, commented, “Why would someone just appear and vandalize a statue of Dedan Kimathi at Freedom Corner? He might not be in the right state of mind.”
Remembering Dedan Kimathi
Born in 1920 in Nyeri County, Dedan Kimathi was a prominent leader of the Mau Mau uprising, which spearheaded Kenya’s fight against colonial rule.
Captured in 1956 and executed by British authorities in 1957, Kimathi’s body was buried in an unmarked grave, and his remains have never been found.
Despite this, his legacy lives on as a national hero. The statue erected in his honor serves as a powerful reminder of Kenya’s painful but proud journey to independence and the sacrifices made to achieve it.
