Nairobi was thrown into chaos on Thursday after protesters torched two vehicles and engaged police in violent clashes along Aga Khan Walk in the central business district.
The demonstrations were sparked by public outrage over the controversial death of blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang’, with protesters demanding the resignation of Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat.
The inferno completely gutted two vehicles, reducing them to charred shells.
The protests began when a large crowd of demonstrators surged from the Ambassador area toward Harambee Avenue, attempting to storm the heavily fortified government precinct. Clashes erupted as protesters hurled stones at police, who responded with volleys of tear gas in an attempt to disperse the crowd.
Tensions escalated quickly, with some protesters picking up and lobbing tear gas canisters back at the officers. The running battles caused widespread damage, as several vehicles were vandalized and trash bins overturned, leaving a trail of destruction across the area.
Despite the heavy police presence and erected barricades, protesters eventually overpowered law enforcement and gained partial access to Harambee Avenue. The confrontations intensified near Parliament, with stone-throwing continuing and police deploying additional tear gas in efforts to regain control of the situation.
The atmosphere remained volatile as calls for accountability in Ojwang’s death continued to fuel public anger. Authorities have yet to confirm the number of arrests or injuries from the incident.
