Nairobi’s Newly Installed CBD Dustbins Vandalised During Protests

Demonstrations demanding justice for Albert Ojwang, a teacher and blogger who died while in police custody, escalated into violent clashes in Nairobi's central business district on Thursday. 

The protests disrupted scheduled parliamentary proceedings and raised urgent questions about police accountability. The unrest started in the Ambassador area, where a large crowd convened to voice grievances over the death of Ojwang. The protesters marched toward Harambee Avenue, the government precinct, chanting slogans and holding placards calling for accountability in Ojwang's death and the resignation of Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat. 

As tensions intensified, police used tear gas, leading to skirmishes throughout the city's streets. The demonstrations led to property destruction, including the overturning of newly installed public dustbins, part of Nairobi County's recent initiative to modernise waste management. Demonstrators dragged the bins along the roads, using them as makeshift barricades in a symbolic act of defiance. 

The situation further deteriorated along Aga Khan Walk, where protesters set two vehicles ablaze, sending plumes of smoke into the air. A third vehicle was also set on fire. The protests coincided with the scheduled presentation of Kenya's 2025/2026 national budget in Parliament by Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi. Demonstrators sought to disrupt the proceedings, arguing that addressing the alleged injustice surrounding Ojwang's death should take precedence over fiscal policy. 

The slogan "No Justice, No Budget" echoed through the streets. Ojwang, a vocal critic of government policies and police conduct, was arrested in Homa Bay on June 7 and transported over 350 kilometres to Nairobi. He was detained at Central Police Station, where authorities initially claimed he had committed suicide. However, a post-mortem examination revealed severe head trauma, neck compression, and extensive soft tissue injuries, contradicting the suicide narrative.

These inconsistencies have fueled public anger, prompting civil society groups and legal experts to call for an independent investigation. The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has initiated a probe, and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has identified Benjamin Talam, the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at Nairobi Central, as a suspect. Despite these actions, no arrests have been made, exacerbating tensions.

The protests have garnered support from human rights organisations, youth-led movements and legal professionals, all demanding accountability and comprehensive reforms.