NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 19-Uncertainty hit Kayole area in Nairobi, as protests against the killing of a youth turned chaotic.
The man, identified as John Kiiru, was allegedly shot dead by police after he was arrested for flouting curfew rules.
“He had sent a text message to his wife saying he has been arrested,” a friend to the deceased who sought anonymity told Shahidi News.
Witnesses further told Shahidi News that before his death, Kiiru had initially boarded a motorcycle and was heading home when a police vehicle hot on their trail hit them from the rear causing them to fall.
The bodaboda rider fearing for his life sped off while Kiiru was left at the mercy of officers who assaulted him using a baton.
He was left for dead with residents recovering his body in the wee hours of the morning sparking off the angry protests.
“Cases of police brutality have increased so much in this area. We are tired,” he added.
“We are coming from work and police still beat us up, whether or not you follow rules it seems police are still targeting us, what do they want us to do now?” posed an angry resident.
During the protests, businesses were closed, patients holed up in hospitals and students held up in learning institutions despite police efforts to calm the situation.
Journalists who went to cover the protests were not spared either, and some were forced to seek refuge at the Kayole Police station.
“I have spent Sh500 to cover a distance of less than two kilometres for me to hide at the police station,” one of the journalists told Shahidi News.
The deceased’s body remained at the crime scene for several hours despite attempts by law enforcement to retrieve it. Hours of running battle saw police in the area seek reinforcement from their colleagues from other jurisdictions after they were overpowered by civilians.
The body was finally recovered and taken to the local mortuary.
According to police, locals and reporters on the ground, a group of armed youth infiltrated the protests, causing mayhem in the area.
“They are stealing from the people in broad daylight. They are even armed,” a Kayole resident who sought anonymity told Shahidi News.
His sentiments were corroborated by journalists covering the protests.
Locals alleged that a section of the protesters who caused mayhem were members of Gaza criminal gang. But it was not immediately verified due to its amorphous nature.
The gang members are usually armed with crude weapons and are trigger happy, with or without provocation.
The protesters lit bonfires on the road, burnt car tyres as police engaged them in running battles. All the main roads were barricaded.
Nairobi County Commissioner Florah Moraa condemned the violent protests that saw widespread looting in the area.
“Criminals took advantage of the situation, they looted shops, but we will not allow such, we will deal with them very firmly,”said Moraa.
Moraa also revealed that police have since launched investigations into the death of John Kiiru as the family of the deceased demands justice.
“John Kiiru was found dead today (Thursday) in Kayole…they have been some riots, members of the public have raised suspicion on the death of Kiiru though so far we have not been able to establish the cause of death but we have consulted with the sub county security committee and we have an agreement we will ensure investigations will be done to find out what caused the death of this gentleman.” said the county commissioner who further stated,”we would like to call upon the family and members of the public who may be having any information regarding the same to report to the police station so that they are able to help in the investigations,” she said.
Kayole is highly populated, with the common denominator being poverty and high rate of unemployment among the youth.
It is one of the Nairobi’s hotspots areas according to available police statistics.
Nairobi County Commander Augustine Nthumbi was also caught up in the melee.
Police killings have led to protests in various parts of the country like in Kisii and recently in Embu, following the brutal killing of two brothers in August 1.
Both in Kisii and Embu, people were shot dead during the protests.
Six police officers are in custody pending conclusion of the ongoing investigations on their role in the Embu killings.
All these killings have occurred during operations to enforce curfew hours and other COVID-19 preventive measures like wearing a face mask while in public.
Statistics by human rights organisations indicate that more than 30 people have been killed since March 2020, when the stringent restrictions were put in place to curb the spread of COVID-19 disease.
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