NAIROBI, Kenya – Violence and looting marred what began as a peaceful protest in Nairobi’s Central Business District on Thursday, as suspected goons infiltrated crowds demanding justice for slain social media influencer Albert Ojwang.
Footage circulating on social media shows armed individuals smashing windows and attempting to break into a phone’s shop along Kenyatta Avenue.
The group, appearing organized and intent on destruction, seemed to operate separately from the peaceful demonstrators, who were mostly armed with flags and bottles of water.
Witnesses say the men arrived with a different agenda—vandalism and theft—fueling speculation that they may have been deployed to deliberately discredit the protests and provoke police retaliation.
The protests had been called to demand accountability over the brutal killing of Ojwang’, whose death has sparked national outrage and renewed scrutiny on the conduct of police and government officials.
Armed goons seen looting from shops in Nairobi CBD, they had earlier targeted peaceful protesters agitating for justice following the brutal killing of Albert Ojwang.
In a separate incident, suspected vandals destroyed newly installed dustbins along major streets in the CBD.
The bins, introduced less than a month ago by Nairobi County as part of a beautification and sanitation initiative, were uprooted, dragged across pavements, and left damaged.
City authorities have yet to issue an official statement, but early estimates suggest significant losses from the damage to public infrastructure and private property.
The developments come just hours after the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) revealed that three suspects had been identified in connection with Ojwang’s death.
Parliamentary committee chair Gabriel Tongoyo told the National Assembly that arrests were imminent, and that IPOA had requested assistance from the Inspector General of Police.
The situation in Nairobi remains tense, with a heavy police presence and widespread concern over security in the wake of the protests.
