Cop Crimes, Kicking Things Off In Nairobi Again
Peaceful Protest in Kenya: Civician Fatally Shot by Police Officers
In Nairobi's busy business district, groups of people rally up, demanding an end to the police's rough handling. On Tuesday, these protesters found themselves face to face with a gang of thugs on motorbikes, armed to the teeth with unsophisticated weapons - the infamous Kenyan "goons."
Unrest in the Jungle
The city seems to reek of chaos as police cars and officers saunter about. One of them shoves a friendly vendor named Jonah Kariuki, who, moments later, feels a bullet pierce his skull. The shooter, masked and covered in cowardice, is none other than a cop. Kariuki takes a tumble to the pavement, and the offending officer casually strolls away.
No Regrets, No Responsibility
The police aren't exactly owning up to their actions. In a statement, they claimed to disapprove of these "unlawful groupings." The ambushing cowboy who plugged Kariuki with a shotgun is now behind bars, but activists are clamoring for him to face charges.
The justice system, on the other hand, plans to stand by its promise to mete out justice in all cases, especially those concerning alleged police brutality.
Floor Is Lava: A Wave of Protests
Tensions are high in Kenya, as the nation approaches its anniversary of massive protests driven by the Gen Z crowd. The government's latest Finance Bill has managed to dodge the tax hikes that incited the last round of rallies in mid-2024. However, rights groups argue that a whopping 60 civilians lost their lives during the upheaval, with many more being wrongfully imprisoned by the police force.
The protests reached a peak when thousands stormed parliament, while lawmakers debated the Finance Bill. The bill is expected to take effect on July 1, 2025.
The demonstrations returned, following the death of a 31-year-old teacher named Albert Ojwang in police custody. The protesters are calling for the resignation of a senior officer they believe played a hand in Ojwang's death.
A Tale as Old as Time
The town of Nairobi has a rather tiresome history of politicians employing mob violence. This year alone, President William Ruto was accused of paying off gangs to be his personal bodyguards, attempting to silence any opposition during a tour of Nairobi.
Ruto flatly denied any involvement with these bands of goons after the tour was abruptly terminated due to rampant chaos and robberies.
Here We Go Again
"We're becoming a country without laws," Ndungi Githuku, of civil rights group Kongamano La Mapinduzi, told the AFP at Tuesday's protest. "Each day, we see hundreds of paid thugs, armed with whips and weapons, terrorizing our citizens," he said.
Despite attempts to improve the relationship between the police and the public, human rights activists argue that the Kenyan police force has not been successful in transforming their image from an authoritarian force to one dedicated to serving citizens within a democracy.
- The protesters in Nairobi's business district are rallying for an end to police brutality, demanding a change in the behavior of the government's law enforcement.
- The media is reporting on the increasing incidents of crime and justice, with the latest being the shooting of Jonah Kariuki by a police officer in broad daylight.
- As Kenya approaches its anniversary of massive protests, the general-news is abuzz with discussions about the government's Finance Bill, the alleged police brutality, and the awareness raised by activist groups like Kongamano La Mapinduzi.
- The history of politics in Nairobi has been marked by disturbing instances of politicians using violence, with recent accusations of President William Ruto employing armed gangs for personal gain and to silence opposition.
