Kangemi turns chaotic as water cannons and teargas dominate Saba Saba protests
By Steve Ireri, July 7, 2025Water cannons tore through crowds, and tear gas clouded the air as Kangemi descended into chaos on Monday, July 7, 2025, during the height of Saba Saba protests.
Ugly scenes unfolded as police clashed with demonstrators, even as more protesters continued to mill into the area, swelling the crowds and intensifying the unrest with each passing hour.
Hundreds of protesters, mostly youth, had gathered in the Nairobi neighbourhood to mark the anniversary of the historic Saba Saba movement, but the mood quickly shifted from remembrance to confrontation.
With rocks strewn across the roads, tyres set ablaze, and whistles piercing through the air, Kangemi became a focal point of national resistance against economic injustice, police brutality, and government unaccountability.
In the heat of the standoff, one person was seen lying on the ground after police began unleashing powerful jets of water to break up the gatherings.
Fellow protesters rushed to his aid, shielding him from further harm and ferrying him away from the frontlines.
Moments later, more youths regrouped defiantly, waving placards and chanting, “We are the voice of the people!” as clouds of smoke and dust curled above them.
Calls for justice
The demonstrators, mostly Gen Zs, carried makeshift banners bearing the names and faces of those killed during recent police crackdowns, including that of blogger Albert Ojwang, whose mysterious death in police custody continues to stir nationwide fury.
Police, deployed in full riot gear, had sealed key entry points into Kangemi, but the crowds continued to grow—some arriving from nearby Kawangware and Mountain View estates.
The resistance, fuelled by anger and grief, showed no signs of abating despite arrests and heavy-handed dispersal efforts.
A TikTok live stream by Dailytrends captured scenes of disruption along the major highways, which were heavily littered with stones and debris, as police trucks remained stationed across a particular section of the road.
Protesters could be seen in their hundreds on the opposite lane, and according to the livestream, they were carrying the body of the person injured during the unfolding chaos.
More residents watched the situation escalate from the balconies of their homes, while others actively joined in, lending their voices to the protesters’ chants against the rising presence of police officers.