Chaos After Police Fire Teargas at Gachagua and Kalonzo Rally in Nairobi CBD
There was confusion and panic in the Nairobi Central Business District on Monday afternoon after police officers fired teargas at a rally led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka. The rally was taking place near the busy Tea Room area, drawing a large crowd of supporters and curious members of the public.
The incident reportedly occurred while Kalonzo was introducing several Wiper Party members and aspirants who had joined him for the event. According to videos obtained by Newshub.co.ke, the situation changed suddenly just after one of the party aspirants finished addressing the crowd.
The live media coverage that was capturing the rally unexpectedly went off-air for a short period. Moments later, thick clouds of smoke were seen rising in the area as police lobbed teargas canisters into the gathering.
Supporters were forced to run in different directions as the smoke spread quickly across the streets. Business activities in the area were also temporarily disrupted, with traders hurriedly closing their shops to avoid being affected by the chaos. The once lively rally turned into a scene of panic within minutes.
Shortly after the teargas was fired, Gachagua and other opposition leaders were quickly escorted away from the scene through River Road. Videos circulating online showed plumes of smoke behind them as security officers and aides worked to move them to safety.
The leaders had earlier gathered in the CBD after visiting the offices of the Inspector General of Police to raise concerns over alleged cases of police brutality.
Speaking during the rally before the disruption, Gachagua criticized the conduct of the police service. He stated that security agencies are meant to protect and serve Kenyans, not to intimidate or silence them. “The police service exists to serve the people of Kenya, not to intimidate them.
The law must apply equally to all,” he said, emphasizing the need for fairness and accountability within the security sector.
After the rally was cut short, opposition leaders strongly condemned the incident. They accused the government of deliberately planning the disruption to frustrate their political activities.
Gachagua went further and directly blamed Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, alleging that he had instructed police officers to interfere with the peaceful gathering.
The Nairobi incident came just a day after a similar confrontation in Kitengela. On Sunday, a faction of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) led by Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino also held a rally in the area.
That meeting was abruptly stopped after police fired teargas at the crowd, causing supporters to flee.
Reports following the Kitengela incident indicated that two people lost their lives, while more than 50 others sustained injuries during the chaos. The situation sparked public outrage and renewed debate about the handling of political gatherings and crowd control by security agencies.
Observers note that this is not the first time Gachagua has faced disruptions during public events. In recent months, several of his meetings have reportedly been interrupted.
One of the most talked-about incidents occurred at an ACK church in Othaya, where alleged attacks during a church function raised serious concerns among his supporters.
The reported church incident was one of the key reasons why the opposition leaders sought a meeting with the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja.
However, when they visited Jogoo House, the IG was not in his office. The leaders expressed frustration over what they described as a lack of response from senior security officials.
Despite the tension, the opposition team vowed to return on Friday, February 20, to seek answers and demand accountability over the alleged church attacks and other recent incidents. Meanwhile, the police have maintained that investigations into the church matter are ongoing and that due process will be followed.
The back-to-back confrontations have heightened political tension in the country, with both the opposition and government trading accusations over responsibility.
As investigations continue, many Kenyans are closely watching how authorities will handle future political gatherings and whether measures will be taken to prevent similar incidents from happening again.
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