Chaos erupted in Shauri Moyo, Nairobi on Wednesday March 5, 2025 after enraged youths set fire to the local police station following the fatal shooting of two teenagers by a police officer in Gikomba.
The victims, a 12-year-old child and a 17-year-old with a disability, were reportedly gunned down on Tuesday night, triggering widespread outrage.
According to eyewitnesses, the confrontation began when the rogue officer opened fire under unclear circumstances.
News of the tragic deaths quickly spread, prompting a furious response from residents. By morning, large crowds had gathered, demanding justice for the slain teens.
Protests escalated as angry youth stormed Shauri Moyo Police Station, overpowered officers on duty and set the facility ablaze.
According to the police report, two undercover officers at Majengo Gorofani area while pursuing a young man believed to be carrying a bag of bhang were overpowered by a mob of youths in aid of the suspect on Tuesday evening.
Police added that the two officers were injured as a result of being pelted with stones and crude weapons. They shot in the air as they tried to free themselves. A young man was shot in the melee and taken to hospital with a gunshot wound.
“This morning at around 3.15 am, the injured victim (who was last evening’s bhang suspect) died in hospital.
“Angry youths have this morning barricaded roads around Shauri Moyo /Majengo. Three houses belonging to Kamukunji APS officers have been torched down. A motor vehicle belonging to Shauri Moyo Police Station GK B 700 U has been torched,” read part of the police report.
Police added that a second body with a knife wound was found in a dark alley Wednesday morning around Shauri Moyo.
Meanwhile, images circulating on social media show police vehicles engulfed in flames, symbolizing the growing frustration with alleged police brutality and corruption.
“This is a message to the corrupt system. When injustice becomes the norm, resistance becomes a civic duty,” one protester declared.
Authorities have yet to issue a detailed statement on the incident, but sources indicate that reinforcements have been deployed to restore order. Human rights activists have condemned the killings, calling for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the officer responsible.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has urged calm while demanding a transparent investigation. As tensions remain high, residents insist they will not back down until justice is served for the victims.
The incident has once again put the spotlight on police conduct in Kenya, with many calling for urgent reforms to curb extrajudicial killings. Meanwhile, the government is expected to release an official report on the matter as investigations continue.
