Protesters torch police houses in clash over fatal shooting of 17-year-old boy
By Ascah Mwango, March 5, 2025The air in Majengo was thick with smoke and the piercing sound of sirens as violent protests broke out on the evening of Tuesday, March 4, 2025, after reports of a fatal shooting, with residents fingering the police for being responsible for the incident.
Viral videos from the scene captured the fury of demonstrators as they flooded the streets, demanding justice and accountability. By Wednesday, March 5, 2025, the protests had escalated, with enraged residents torching a police vehicle and residential areas. Protesters also obstructed a major road leading to Eastleigh, using stones and burning tires to create barricades, effectively halting traffic.
The situation spiraled into chaotic clashes between law enforcement and protesters. Police officers struggled with controlling the growing crowds, resorting to tear gas and water cannons in an attempt to restore order.
37 Casualities
The Kenya Red Cross reported on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, that its first responders attended to 37 casualties following violent protests in Majengo, Nairobi. Among the injured, two individuals in critical condition were rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital and Pumwani Maternity Hospital for urgent treatment.
“Earlier today, Kenya Red Cross first responders attended to 37 casualties following protests in Majengo, Nairobi. Two critically injured individuals were evacuated by @EMS_Kenya to Kenyatta National Hospital, while one was taken to Pumwani Maternity. Our teams set up a triage post at Riatha Mosque to provide immediate medical assistance,” the statement by the organisation read.
The unrest erupted late Tuesday night after two plainclothes police officers pursued a 17-year-old suspect allegedly found in possession of bhang in the Majengo Gorofani area.
Witnesses said a group of young men attempted to stop the officers, attacking them with stones and crude weapons. In response, the officers fired shots into the air in an attempt to disperse the crowd.
During the chaos, a young man was shot and taken to the hospital.
By early Wednesday morning, tensions escalated further when the injured individual—believed to be the teenager in question—was pronounced dead.
As news of his death spread, anger swept through the community, prompting fresh demonstrations. By dawn, protesters had blocked roads in Shauri Moyo and Majengo with burning tyres and debris, expressing their fury over the incident.