Tense scenes unfolded in Kitengela and Kisii on Monday as large groups of defiant youths flooded the central business districts, overwhelming police barricades and disrupting daily life in both towns.
Efforts by police to seal off major roads leading in and out of the towns were met with resistance as the crowds pushed through, forcing officers to respond with volleys of tear gas. In Kitengela, protesters lit bonfires and hurled stones, blocking key roads and sending businesses into lockdown amid fears of looting and destruction.
Despite the thick clouds of tear gas blanketing the streets, the demonstrators refused to retreat engaging officers in a prolonged game of cat and mouse, chanting slogans and standing their ground.
The unrest brought much of the local economy to a halt. Shops closed, transport was paralyzed, and residents struggled to access basic services, with many caught in the crossfire of the confrontation.
“We can’t take our children to school. There’s no way to buy food or reach essential services,” said one frustrated businessman in Kitengela. “These aren’t just demonstrations anymore they’ve turned criminal. The police must act decisively to restore order.”
While the protests reflect deeper frustrations brewing among the youth, the disruption has also reignited debate over the limits of public dissent and the state’s ability to maintain control as unrest continues to ripple across the country.
