By Abdimalik Hajir - Reporter
April 24, 2026 - Local elders and religious leaders have called on residents to remain calm and allow investigators from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to conclude their probe into the fatal shooting of taxi driver Aden Mohamed.
Speaking after meeting the Garissa County Security Committee at the County Commissioner’s office, the leaders noted that criminal elements had infiltrated the protests, harassing and injuring people, especially non-locals.
A representative of the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims, Sheikh Hassan Abdi, said the decision by a section of leaders to call for protests was ill-advised.
He said that while there is a need for the police and IPOA to conclusively investigate and apprehend the suspects, residents must also take responsibility for maintaining security.
“We have lost this young man, and we are asking the police and IPOA to ensure they arrest the suspect. Equally, we are asking all imams to use their pulpit today (Friday) to preach peace and stop all manner of protest,” said Sheikh Hassan Abdi.
Sheikh Hassan appealed to residents to avoid causing chaos and to refrain from actions that could disrupt peace in the town.
“The protest that happened over the last two days was a result of bad decisions, and as religious leaders we do not support such demonstrations that give room for criminal elements,” he said.
Garissa Peace Committee chairman, Mzee Osman Ibrahim, said that while peaceful demonstrations are constitutional, some individuals had taken advantage of the situation to target certain groups.
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“Whatever has happened, the government has assured us that the culprit will be arrested. Let us give dialogue a chance and allow the government to work on this case,” he said.
There have been reports of boda boda operators being targeted by youths wielding rungus. In retaliation, several buses plying the Nairobi–Garissa route were attacked.
Images of buses with shattered windows have circulated online.
Garissa County Commissioner Mohamed Mwabuzdo urged religious leaders to continue preaching peace and to use their platforms to encourage residents to avoid actions that may disrupt stability.
Ward representatives, including Dadaab MCA Mohamed Abdi Farah and his Modogashe counterparts, as well as civil society members, were in attendance.