OLKALOU, Kenya — At least 26 vehicles belonging to the Nyandarua County Government were torched on Wednesday during nationwide demonstrations to mark the first anniversary of last year’s anti-Finance Bill protests.
According to county officials, the vehicles were parked at the Olkalou Sub-County offices when protesters descended on the compound and set them ablaze.
Also destroyed in the incident were 18 government motorbikes and newly acquired music equipment, which had been stored at the premises.
Five of the vehicles were reported to be grounded at the time of the attack.
The incident unfolded as police engaged protesters in running battles throughout Wednesday, with tear gas fired to disperse crowds that had barricaded roads with stones and debris. Tensions remained high in Olkalou well into the evening.
Nyandarua was one of more than 20 counties that experienced unrest during the June 25 demonstrations, which were held to commemorate the 2024 protests that turned deadly after police opened fire on demonstrators who stormed Parliament.
This year’s protests were marked by a significant death toll, with Amnesty International Kenya confirming 16 fatalities, most of them from gunshot wounds, and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) reporting over 400 injuries.
KNCHR said it had recorded eight protest-related deaths across several counties: Machakos (2), Makueni (2), Nakuru (1), Kiambu (1), Uasin Gishu (1), and Nyandarua (1).
In a statement late Wednesday, KNCHR noted that while the majority of the injured had been treated and discharged, 83 were referred for specialised treatment due to the severity of their injuries.
The wave of demonstrations hit both urban and rural areas, including Nairobi, Mombasa, Eldoret, Kakamega, Narok, Busia, Nyeri, Laikipia, Machakos, Homa Bay, and Kirinyaga, reflecting the breadth of public anger over police brutality and broader socio-economic frustrations.
