Terror in Githurai as plainclothes police storm estates, shoot in air on protest anniversary

Exclusive videos captured by Citizen Digital and other outlets have revealed that police are now firing indiscriminately in the air as they ride chaotically through the streets and in estates like Githurai 45.

In the videos currently going viral online, Kenyans can be heard expressing shock as police, not in official uniform, tear through alleyways and backstreets, randomly beating up bystanders and shooting in the air in broad daylight.

In some of the videos, women can be heard wailing loudly as the brutality nears them, and in others scared Kenyans can be seen scampering for safety as police draw closer, shooting and brandishing batons.

The reckless actions are a clear escalation of the Kenya Police's efforts to restore order and stifle protests, as Kenyans from all over the country take to the streets in remembrance of the many killed and injured during the bloody June 25 2024 Gen-Z anti-government demonstrations.

Earlier, Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) ground to a near-total standstill as a massive deployment of anti-riot police, stringent roadblocks, and sweeping business closures marked the anniversary of the historic youth-led anti-government protests.

From the early hours of Thursday morning, security agencies took no chances. Armed police officers, horse patrols, and a heavy presence of plainclothes officers occupied strategic intersections. Key government installations, including the Parliament buildings and pathways leading toward State House, were heavily fortified with razor wire and barricades.

Access to the city centre was strictly regulated. Major transit corridors experienced severe traffic snarl-ups due to intense police checkpoints.

Fearing a recurrence of the property damage, looting, and clashes that characterised the height of the original 2024 tax protests, the vast majority of business owners chose to keep their shops locked. Key commercial zones including Koinange Street, Kimathi Street, and Muindi Mbingu Street saw zero civilian traffic and shuttered storefronts.