Tension rose early Thursday in Nairobi’s Central Business District as demonstrators gathered to demand the resignation of public officials, including Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat, who has been named in public allegations linking him to the death of Albert Ojwang.
On Tuesday, tensions escalated as hundreds of young protesters, predominantly from the Gen Z demographic, flooded the CBD to demand justice.
President William Ruto issued a statement on Wednesday, extending his condolences to Ojwang’s family and calling on the National Police Service to cooperate with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority to ensure a swift and credible investigation.
Notably, these protests follow a pattern of youth-led demonstrations that began with opposition to the Finance Bill 2024, which was withdrawn after deadly clashes last June.
The unrest, which has persisted intermittently since 2024, has seen a resurgence in recent weeks following Ojwang’s death.
Today’s protests coincide with heightened online activism, with hashtags such as #NoJusticeNoBudget, #ArrestEliudLagat, and #JusticeForAlbertOjwang trending just hours before the 2025/2026 budget presentation in Parliament. Protesters were recorded chanting, “No Justice, No Budget!”
Demonstrators have converged near the Nairobi City County Assembly, the National Assembly, National Archives, and Kencom, but are being dispersed with tear gas by the police.
With Nairobi’s CBD locked in a cycle of unrest, the standoff between protesters and authorities threatens to deepen, placing strain on the city’s economic and social fabric.
– Jeremiah Richu
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