Chaos broke out in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) on Friday, June 13, 2025, after a group of furious hawkers set fire to a Nairobi City County government vehicle near Afya Centre.
According to footage seen by Newshub.co.ke, the vehicle was flipped over and engulfed in flames. Police officers had to intervene by firing teargas canisters to control the angry crowd and restore order.
The confrontation occurred in the heart of the city following a heated exchange between the hawkers and Nairobi county enforcement officers, commonly referred to as kanjo. The clash was reportedly triggered by an ongoing standoff between the two sides.
Though full details are still emerging, initial information suggests that the hawkers were angered by what they described as persistent harassment and aggressive crackdowns by the county askaris. Their frustration eventually boiled over, leading to the violent turn of events.
As of now, there have been no official reports of injuries or casualties, and the situation did not spiral into widespread disorder.
Tensions between county enforcement officers and hawkers are not new. These confrontations have become a frequent scene in Nairobi, especially in the CBD where hawkers often operate without proper permits.
Most of the time, these encounters end in chaotic chases as hawkers try to evade arrest or the confiscation of their goods.
However, Friday’s unrest came barely a day after another major demonstration shook the city. On Thursday, June 12, 2025, hundreds of protestors took to the streets over the controversial death of popular X (formerly Twitter) influencer, Albert Ojwang, while in police custody.
During those protests, a large number of youths flooded various streets in Nairobi demanding the resignation of Deputy Inspector General of Police, Eliud Lagat. The angry demonstrators claimed the DIG was responsible for the tragic events that led to Ojwang’s death.
The demonstrations severely disrupted movement and business activities within the CBD, just hours before the highly anticipated reading of the 2025/2026 National Budget by Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi.
Protestors matched through prominent landmarks such as City Hall, Jeevanjee Gardens, and even the Parliament Buildings. Key roads like Harambee Avenue were blocked as the protestors attempted to push past the heavily guarded security zones near Parliament.
Police responded with force, firing teargas and using other crowd control techniques to prevent the protestors from breaching security lines. Despite this, the protestors remained defiant, chanting in unison and waving placards with strong messages aimed at senior government officials.
Draped in national flag colours, some protestors carried twigs, blew whistles, and displayed banners demanding justice for Albert Ojwang.
Videos and images shared with Newshub.co.ke captured the intensity and passion of the protests, which highlighted growing public frustration with the conduct of police and county authorities.
As tensions continue to simmer in the city, Nairobi residents are calling for calm, dialogue, and urgent reforms in how street-level enforcement is carried out—both by the police and county officials.
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