By TWV Reporter
In a troubling indication of Kenya’s shrinking democratic space, an armed gang violently disrupted a peaceful protest held yesterday in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD), which was calling for the resignation of Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat.
The demonstrators, primarily civil society activists and university students had gathered to express their discontent with the senior police official. However, a group of unidentified men on motorbikes, believed to be hired goons, attacked the protesters, turning a peaceful march into chaos. Wielding sticks and shouting, the gang charged the crowd, forcing demonstrators to scatter. Several protesters were assaulted, with some sustaining minor injuries.
“They came aggressively on motorbikes, surrounding us before we could react,” said an anonymous protester. “They beat some of our colleagues and chased others. The police just stood by and watched.”
Despite a significant police presence, officers remained passive as the gang harassed and attacked the demonstrators. No arrests were made, and no effort was observed to restrain the assailants, raising concerns about the police’s role in protecting the right to peaceful assembly.
Earlier, police had used tear gas to disperse a crowd outside Nation Centre, where the protest initially gained momentum. The demonstrators had planned to march to the Central Police Station to deliver a petition demanding accountability from the Deputy Inspector General.
“This is not just an attack on protesters; it’s an attack on the Constitution,” said a human روشن rights activist. “When the state fails to protect peaceful assembly and allows gangs to suppress dissent, the rule of law is at risk.”
The disruption caused widespread panic in the city centre, prompting many businesses to close for the day amid fears of looting and insecurity. At least one fatality was reported by the time we filed this story, and calls are growing for the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to investigate the officers’ inaction during the incident.
The identity and affiliations of the boda boda gang remain unconfirmed, but speculation is rife that they were acting at the behest of a powerful city politician.
