Death, chaos as goons infiltrate demonstrations in Nairobi

One of the protestors wearing a police helmet after it was snatched from a police officer during protests over the killing of blogger Albert Ojwang.[Collins Kweyu,Standard] A hawker was shot on Tuesday during protests in Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD) demanding the resignation of Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat over the death of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang'. In a viral video, two anti-riot police officers were seen assaulting a male trader along Kimathi Street, before one of them shoved him aside and shot him in the head. Speaking to The Standard, Francis Gachanja, Secretary General of the City Centre Hawkers Association, said the slain trader, Boniface Kariuki, usually operated around Tom Mboya Street. He added that Kariuki typically sold chains around the Commercial area but was hawking face masks yesterday to help protesters shield themselves from teargas. "It is unfortunate that we have lost one of our own, and that is unacceptable. Whenever there are protests, we move around, and that is what he was doing," Gachanja said. He added, "He was shot in broad daylight, and that is why we are demanding answers. Starting tomorrow, we will be on the streets demanding justice for him. They ought to have arrested him." Earlier in the day, about 20 protesters had gathered on Kimathi Street for a prayer session, but police quickly dispersed them with teargas. The group later regrouped and marched to Central Police Station, Ojwang' was killed. After protesters crossed the University Way roundabout, a group of goons on motorcycles emerged from the CBD and went after them. The riders, carrying one or two pillion passengers armed with whips, began assaulting the protesters. The attack caused panic, forcing the demonstrators to scatter and abandon their planned march to the police station. In retaliation, two motorcycles were torched after the goons were overpowered by the protesters, with help from CBD boda boda riders. The Standard witnessed police officers patrolling Koinange Street and at times standing by on Kimathi and Moi avenues, seemingly unbothered as the goons ran riot. Some of the attackers, including individuals wearing uniforms linked to Nairobi County's Dishi na County programme, were caught up in the wrath of angry protesters. The demonstrators later regrouped and headed towards Koinange Street, as the goons, who had earlier moved towards Moi Avenue, circled back. Several boda boda riders operating in the CBD claimed the attackers had been ferried in from areas such as Korogocho, Kawangware, and Kangemi, allegedly paid to disrupt the peaceful protest. They accused unnamed Nairobi politicians of hiring the goons, a tactic they say was also used during last week's protests. "Those who came in motorbikes were in groups and were armed and were paid by some politicians and senior officials at City Hall to harm the protestors," one of the riders said. Among those who were assaulted were activists Hanifa Adan and Shakila Wafula. Speaking to The Standard, Adan claimed that the goons had been mobilized by a Nairobi politician to counter the protests. "The police have been watching the goons terrorizing innocent people...they beat people up, people who are just minding their business," she said. Another protestor Felix Nyadua accused the goons of being used by politicians to cause chaos since their protests were to push for justice. "We are here because we need justice, because everything in this country is like propaganda," said Nyadua in reference to the misleading information that had been given by the authorities regarding Ojwang's death. Rejoice Mutheu said that she had witnessed the goons using teargas to repulse the protestors. "How do you give the goons teargas to throw at us innocent citizens? That is very shameless of the government," she said. "These were goons who were beating us, they had whips, teargas and stones...teargas should be in the custody of the police but the goons have it." Along Moi Avenue, the story was the same as the goons repelled the protestors while the demonstrators would regroup and repulse them, with police seeming to be on the side of the goons. The Standard witnessed as police armed the goons with sticks that they used to beat the demonstrators. After seeing that they had been overpowered the goons went back to Koinange Street where they assaulted the demonstrators dispersing them. The goons would then retreat before they were joined by others to reportedly prevent thieves from breaking into businesses. Some of the goons were captured on camera robbing Kenyans along Moi Avenue as they ran from the smoke of the teargas that rent the air.

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Death, chaos as goons infiltrate demonstrations in Nairobi

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