A shocking investigation has exposed the faces and stories behind the violent disruption of peaceful protests in Nairobi earlier this week, with several hired goons confirming they were mobilized, instructed, and armed but ultimately abandoned and unpaid.
On Tuesday, Kenyans flooded the streets in peaceful demonstrations seeking justice for the death of blogger Albert Ojwang’, who died in police custody. Protesters also demanded the resignation of Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat. However, the demonstrations turned chaotic when armed gangs stormed the streets wielding jembe sticks and attacking protestors.
Eyewitness accounts and viral videos painted a grim picture: the goons operated with impunity and appeared to enjoy police protection. This raised troubling questions about their origin, command, and motive. Police authorities and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja have both denied any association with the groups.
But an exposé by Citizen TV traced the trail back to Nairobi’s informal settlements, including Kibera, Korogocho, and Dagoretti. There, some of the attackers spoke openly. Nursing injuries from the clashes, they said they were short-changed and betrayed — promised payment for “breaking the protests” but left without compensation and in fear for their lives.
Briefing points included a junction along Dennis Pritt Road and Green Park, where the goons received final instructions before fanning out. A viral video showed some of the same individuals walking outside City Hall, raising suspicion of possible links to political or administrative handlers.
Now, some of the goons have taken to social media to apologize and plead for forgiveness, while others have gone into hiding upcountry, fearing retaliation from the public or abandonment by those who hired them.
Despite the damning revelations, no arrests have been made. No one has been charged with coordinating the violence or distributing weapons. Instead, fresh threats have surfaced in new videos, sending a chilling message to protestors: resistance may be met with brute force.
This episode deepens the crisis of trust between citizens and law enforcement, and demands urgent accountability from those in power for the safety of peaceful demonstrators and the integrity of democracy itself.
