Security personnel and several people wielding whips and clubs clashed with demonstrators in Kenya on Tuesday, following the shooting of an unarmed civilian by a police officer, which ignited widespread outrage.
Tensions were already elevated in the East African nation as it marks one year since protests led by Gen Z regarding the economy, and new demonstrations have been provoked by the recent death of a man while in police custody.
In the business district of Nairobi, the focal point of last year’s protests, small groups of protesters convened on Tuesday, initially in a peaceful manner, to demand an end to police violence. However, they were soon confronted by hundreds of individuals on motorcycles, referred to as “goons” in Kenya, who were armed with makeshift weapons, according to journalists present at the scene.
While the police did not directly deny any cooperation with the armed “goons”, it said in a statement it “does not condone such unlawful groupings”.
It also said the officer who shot the man in the head “using an anti-riot shotgun” had been arrested.
As shopkeepers hurriedly shut their businesses, the police actively shielded the armed individuals and discharged tear gas at the protesters, who retaliated by tossing stones and setting fire to at least two of the motorcycles.
The government was determined to prevent unrest this year by implementing a finance bill that avoided the tax increases, which led to weeks of demonstrations in June and July 2024.
However, citizens have returned to the streets following the death of 31-year-old teacher Albert Ojwang while in police custody earlier this month.
Protesters are calling for the resignation of a high-ranking officer they hold responsible for the death.
Earlier this year, President William Ruto was accused of paying “goons” to follow his cavalcade around a tour of Nairobi to prevent protests.
Ruto denied hiring any mobs after the tour turned into widespread violence and theft targeting bystanders, which resulted in it being brought to an early close.
