Last Thursday, June 12, 2025, Nairobi’s CBD turned into a war zone. Young people flooded the streets, angry and heartbroken over the death of Albert Ojwang, a blogger who died in police custody. The vibe was raw—chants, smoke, and chaos took over as hundreds demanded answers. I’m still shaken thinking about it, and I wasn’t even there.
Albert Ojwang wasn’t just some random guy. He was a voice for many, calling out what he saw as wrong in Kenya. When word got out that he died while locked up, people lost it. They didn’t buy the official story and blamed the police. The streets filled with signs saying “No Justice, No Budget!” and calls for Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat to step down. It didn’t help that the government was set to roll out its 2025/2026 budget that day in parliament. For the protesters, it was like, “How can you talk about money when people are dying?”
Chaos in the City
It started early, with crowds gathering near City Hall and Harambee Avenue. Things got wild fast. Goons set two cars ablaze, and black smoke choked the skyline. Shops got looted, and businesses in the CBD took a hit as people ran for cover. The police weren’t playing—they fired tear gas left and right to scatter the crowds. I saw videos of kids, barely in their 20s, coughing and running but still holding up their signs. Near Holy Family Basilica, the chants were loud, like the whole city could hear their pain.
It wasn’t just about Ojwang. It felt like years of frustration—about police, the government, everything—exploded that day. People were done.
By the end of the day, the government knew they had to do something. They arrested a police constable from Central Police Station linked to Ojwang’s death, and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority promised to dig into what happened. It was something, but for the protesters? Nowhere near enough. They wanted big changes—resignations, accountability, the works.
The U.S. Embassy put out a warning about the protests, even mentioning rumors of live ammo being used, though nothing was confirmed. The whole CBD shut down—matatus stopped running, shops closed early, and Nairobi felt like a ghost town by evening.
Why It Matters
This wasn’t just a one-day thing. Kenya’s been on edge for a while. The budget was supposed to tackle the country’s debt and economy, but for a lot of young people, it felt like the same old promises. Add Ojwang’s death to the mix, and it was like pouring fuel on a fire. People are fed up with feeling ignored, with police brutality, with a system that seems to protect the powerful.
I was scrolling through X that day, and the videos hit hard. Citizens and journalists were out there, capturing the burning cars and the tear gas clouds. Social Media influencers and media houses showed how the protests completely stole the spotlight from the budget reading. It was messy, loud, and impossible to ignore.
Where Do We Go From Here?
Nairobi’s a bit calmer now, but you can feel the tension lingering. The arrest of that officer is a start, but the protesters want more than a scapegoat—they want the system to change. June 12 showed how fast things can boil over when people feel pushed too far. The government’s got a tough job ahead to rebuild trust, especially with the youth.
Albert Ojwang’s name is still echoing. His death lit a spark, and I have a feeling we’re not done hearing from the streets yet.
