A protest calling for the resignation of Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat was on Tuesday interrupted by a group of unidentified gangs riding on boda bodas.
The protest, which had started peacefully in the Nairobi Central Business District, quickly turned chaotic after the arrival of the gang. Protesters, who were marching through the streets towards the Central Police Station at the University Way intersection, were forced to run for their safety after the boda boda riders stormed the scene and started attacking them.
The group of riders, arriving with energy and shouting loudly, surrounded the demonstrators and disrupted their procession. What had been a peaceful gathering turned into a stampede as the protestors fled in all directions to avoid being caught.
A few who remained behind were seen being chased and beaten on the road as the gang took full control of the situation. The anti-Lagat protestors had no choice but to abandon their cause for the day as the rival camp ruled the streets with force and intimidation.
Strangely, police officers and vehicles were present during the chaos but appeared to do nothing to stop the gang from harassing the demonstrators.
Many witnesses expressed shock at how the police stood by while the protesters were being roughed up in broad daylight.
This raised further concern about whether the police were biased or simply unwilling to protect the rights of the demonstrators.
Before the gang arrived, police had already shown signs of resistance to the protest. They had earlier fired teargas canisters at the crowd that had gathered near Nation Centre where the demonstration had started.
The gas forced many to scatter, but a determined group reassembled and continued marching. However, their hopes were crushed when the boda boda gangs launched their attack shortly after.
Following the incident, the city centre was thrown into confusion and fear. Businesses quickly shut down their operations, with shopkeepers pulling down shutters and street vendors leaving their spots.
The usually busy town became eerily quiet as people ran for cover, uncertain of what would happen next. The tension spread fast, and movement around the affected areas came to a standstill.
This incident has raised more questions about the state of freedom of assembly in Kenya and whether the police are doing enough to protect citizens during protests.
With businesses shut down and fear still lingering in the air, Nairobi remains tense as people wait to see how the authorities will respond to the growing calls for accountability from senior police officials like Eliud Lagat.
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