Tensions flared in the heart of Nairobi on Tuesday after a peaceful protest demanding the resignation of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Eliud Lagat was violently disrupted by gangs riding on boda bodas. The protest, which had been organized by civil rights activists and concerned citizens, took a chaotic turn near the Central Police Station at the University Way intersection.
The demonstrators, who had earlier converged at the Nation Centre, were met with resistance from police who fired teargas canisters in an attempt to disperse them. Despite the initial setback, the protesters regrouped and resumed their march, calling for DIG Lagat to vacate office over alleged incompetence and failure to uphold public safety.
However, just as the group neared the police station, a gang of unidentified individuals descended on the crowd. Arriving on multiple motorbikes, the assailants cornered the demonstrators, physically assaulting some and forcing the rest to flee for safety. Eyewitnesses reported scenes of chaos as the gangs flogged stragglers who could not escape in time.
Startlingly, police officers and patrol vehicles were seen observing the attack without intervening. This apparent inaction has sparked outrage on social media, with Kenyans questioning the neutrality of law enforcement and the state of public safety.
The presence of the gangs and the ensuing violence effectively brought the protest to an abrupt end. Businesses in the Central Business District were forced to shut down as fear gripped the city. Several streets were deserted as shopkeepers closed early, anticipating further unrest.
Activists and political commentators have since condemned the violence and the alleged use of hired goons to silence dissent. They are now demanding an independent investigation into the incident and the role of the police in failing to protect peaceful demonstrators.
This latest confrontation adds to the growing unrest in the country, as citizens continue to call for accountability, transparency, and justice in the handling of public office and security institutions. The silence from the Office of the Inspector General so far has only deepened the concerns of many Kenyans
