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Using goons to cause fear
Armed goons run after demonstrators in Nairobi on June 17, 2025. The protesters were demanding justice for Albert Ojwang.
Photo credit: Evans Habil | Nation Media Group
What you need to know:
- On Tuesday, what began as a peaceful protest turned dark, due to the chilling presence of hired goons.
- Their violence was targeted, and disturbingly, it happened while police stood by or operated alongside them.
On Tuesday, the streets of Nairobi filled with Gen Z chanting and carrying placards. They marched in response to the killing of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody.
What began as a peaceful protest turned dark, not only because of police violence, but due to the chilling presence of hired goons. According to Amnesty International Kenya and multiple eyewitnesses, dozens of men on motorbikes, some masked, others hooded, descended on the crowds with whips and wooden sticks.
