Tensions ran high in Nairobi’s central business district on Thursday, June 12, as hundreds of young people took to the streets, demanding the resignation of Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat.
The demonstrations unfolded just hours before Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi was scheduled to present the 2025/2026 national budget, threatening to paralyze operations in the heart of the capital. Protesters moved in large numbers through key locations including City Hall, Jeevanjee Gardens, and the precincts of Parliament.
Chants and songs echoed through the streets as demonstrators, many dressed in clothing bearing Kenya’s national colours, voiced outrage over the death of influencer Albert Ojwang, who allegedly died while in police custody. Their calls for justice and accountability were loud and unrelenting, with Eliud Lagat at the center of their demands.
The protest soon spilled onto major roads like Harambee Avenue, triggering heightened tensions as crowds attempted to push past the security barricades near Parliament. Police responded swiftly, deploying tear gas and employing other crowd-control measures to disperse the demonstrators and secure the area.
To stem the growing number of protesters, security officials stepped up checks on vehicles entering the city. Motorists along Thika Road reported heavy police presence, with officers carrying out thorough inspections in a bid to restrict access to the CBD.
As the nation tuned in to hear the budget address, the unrest served as a stark reminder of the public’s frustration over police conduct and the growing demand for reform and accountability within the security forces.
