Violence Erupts in Nairobi as Protests Over Albert Ojwang’s Death Ignite Rage and Fire

Nairobi, Kenya — June 12, 2025

What began as a solemn cry for justice morphed into a harrowing spectacle of unrest on Thursday afternoon, as protests over the controversial death of blogger and educator Albert Ojwang exploded into violence in the heart of Nairobi’s central business district.

Tensions that had been brewing for hours finally reached a boiling point near Aga Khan Walk, where demonstrators — many of them youth — set fire to two vehicles in a dramatic act of defiance. Thick plumes of black smoke rose into the Nairobi skyline, turning the city’s commercial hub into a scene of panic, anger, and chaos.

A March Turns Menacing

The day had started with peaceful demonstrations, as crowds gathered in solidarity, chanting “Justice for Ojwang” and “No justice, no budget” — a stinging rebuke timed to coincide with the national budget reading in Parliament.

But as the procession advanced toward Harambee Avenue, frustration gave way to fury. Protesters, confronted by heavily armed riot police, began hurling stones and bottles in a desperate attempt to push through barricaded security lines protecting government buildings.

The confrontation was intense, with officers responding swiftly and aggressively. Tear gas canisters filled the air, dispersing clusters of protestors and bystanders alike, while the chaos reverberated across adjacent streets — Moi Avenue, City Hall Way, and parts of Kenyatta Avenue.

Streets Descend Into Chaos

The moment of ignition came near Aga Khan Walk, where demonstrators overturned trash bins, lit bonfires, and set ablaze two parked cars — symbols, perhaps, of the systemic rot they believed had taken Ojwang’s life. Nearby businesses shuttered abruptly, and commuters fled on foot as sirens wailed across the city center.

Eyewitnesses described a scene that teetered on collapse.

“It was like a war zone,” said one shopkeeper in the area. “One moment they were chanting, the next there was fire and smoke. No one felt safe.”

The police’s rapid deployment of tear gas and anti-riot measures contained the spread of violence but did little to quell the anger. By evening, dozens had been arrested, several injured, and the city’s pulse still pounding with unrest.

A City on Edge, A Country in Question

The unrest marked a grim crescendo in the ongoing fallout from Ojwang’s death, which has ignited widespread public outrage and sparked a broader conversation about police brutality, youth marginalization, and the widening chasm between government institutions and the people they are meant to serve.

Ojwang, a respected blogger and teacher known for his fearless commentary on governance and police conduct, died in custody under suspicious circumstances. Investigations are ongoing, with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) now pursuing criminal charges against at least one officer, while raising alarming allegations of a cover-up and destroyed evidence.

But for many in the streets, justice delayed is justice denied.

“We are tired of asking nicely,” shouted one masked protester before disappearing into a cloud of tear gas. “We demand accountability, or we will take it.”

The Broader Implications

The timing of the protests — coinciding with the unveiling of Kenya’s record KSh 4.29 trillion national budget — is more than symbolic. It represents a searing indictment of a system that, in the eyes of many Kenyans, prioritizes grand economic blueprints over basic human dignity.

As the smoke clears from Nairobi’s streets, the question remains: Can a nation build forward when the voices of its youth are burning in the background?

The coming days will test the government’s ability to not only maintain order, but to restore trust — a far more difficult task than dispersing a crowd.