Tensions in Nairobi surged this week after a demonstrator was killed and two others suffered injuries during clashes between residents and police in the Mathare informal settlement. The violence followed accusations that security forces had abducted two activists, identified as Maxwell Kiarie and Abdulaziz Molu, whose whereabouts remain unknown.
Wanjira Wanjiru from the Mathare Social Justice Centre highlighted the mounting alarm regarding enforced disappearances across the country. Supporters had initially organized peaceful gatherings to pressure authorities for the release of the missing individuals. Instead, the situation escalated into skirmishes, with social media footage documenting the use of tear gas and localized confrontations between citizens and law enforcement.
These developments occur shortly after the one-year anniversary of the 2024 parliament breach. During that period of anti-government unrest, which was sparked by tax increases and economic hardship, security forces killed at least 60 people. Despite heavy police presence throughout Nairobi designed to suppress further dissent, public anger persists regarding both the recent disappearances and the historical pattern of state-led violence.
