Nairobi County Police Commander George Seda has warned TikTokers and content creators against spreading misinformation following allegations of increased insecurity in the Nairobi CBD.
Speaking on Friday, Seda noted that police have apprehended 214 suspects linked to criminal activities in Nairobi's Central Business District.
All suspects are currently being processed for court arraignment.
Commander Seda emphasized that criminal activity has extended beyond street-level crimes to online misinformation campaigns.
The police chief issued a strong warning to TikTok content creators, whom he accused of exploiting security incidents to gain social media popularity while misleading the public about the actual security situation in the capital.
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According to Seda, many of the alleged attacks being shared on social media platforms remain unreported to authorities, raising questions about their credibility and authenticity.
"Those people whose intentions are not good, for this city, by magnifying issues through various channels. We, as the policing agency, have all the resources which we have employed now with the view of getting the perpetrators," he stated. "We are calling them perpetrators because they are causing fear."
Commander Seda sought to reassure the public about safety in the CBD, emphasizing that business operations continue normally despite the online narratives suggesting otherwise.
"CBD is safe. That's my assurance. Businesses are going on as usual. Police visibility is enhanced," he assured. "Police visibility contains all police agencies, which are supposed to undertake the various aspects of ensuring this city is very safe."
The police response comes following heightened public concern about security in Nairobi's central district after former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko sounded an alarm about the return of criminal groups targeting unsuspecting citizens.
Sonko highlighted incidents involving thugs using various weapons including knives, machetes, and both real and fake firearms to rob members of the public, with women being particularly targeted.
The former governor's concerns were amplified by a widely circulated video featuring a woman recounting a frightening encounter with suspicious individuals who followed her in the CBD.
The victim described how she noticed she was being tailed and had to seek help from her Uber driver, who confirmed that such incidents had become increasingly common.
This incident sparked a wave of similar testimonies from Kenyans who shared their experiences of feeling unsafe in the CBD, particularly during evening hours.
The proliferation of these accounts on social media platforms, especially TikTok, has contributed to growing public anxiety about security in the capital's business district.
Numerous content creators and TikTokers have posted videos online sharing their experiences and detailing various alleged methods used by criminals to rob people.
These posts have gone viral, with some creators describing elaborate schemes including decoy tactics, group intimidation, and even unsanitary extortion methods.
Nairobi County Chief Officer for Environment Geoffrey Mosiria had earlier weighed in on the situation, claiming that some criminals disguise themselves as Generation Z content creators while operating in the CBD.
According to Mosiria, these groups typically begin their criminal activities around 5:00 p.m., operating in large numbers of 20 to 30 individuals who surround victims before robbing them.
