Using goons to cause fear
Armed goons run after demonstrators in Nairobi on June 17, 2025. The protesters were demanding justice for Albert Ojwang.
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.
Their violence was targeted, and disturbingly, it happened while police stood by or operated alongside them. This wasn’t random mob action; it looked orchestrated, sanctioned and strategic.
Legitimacy in suppression
Amid this chaos, the State’s aggression was laid bare. A photographer from the Associated Press captured a police officer shooting a civilian at close range. The victim was unarmed and was just standing nearby. This single act, frozen in time by a camera lens, became the symbol of the protest.
The violence was not just physical, it was psychological. By deploying goons to spark unrest, the lines between criminality and authority were blurred. It’s a tactic of control—make the protest appears violent, then the State can claim legitimacy in suppression.
The Gen Z movement is grounded in a cry for dignity, truth and accountability. Tuesday’s events show that they aren’t just facing unjust policies, they’re confronting a system willing to hide behind shadows and pull triggers in daylight. If this is the government’s answer to youthful dissent, then it’s not order they’re defending, it’s fear.
The writer is a youth advocate. [email protected]