Anti-riot police lobbed tear gas to disperse a group of protesters marching towards State House in Nairobi's Central Business District. The demonstrators, mainly relatives of victims from the 2024 and 2025 anti-government protests, sought an audience with President William Ruto over delayed compensation. The incident followed the morning arrest of two activists.
Chaos erupted in Nairobi's Central Business District when anti-riot police lobbed tear gas to disperse a group of protesters marching towards State House. The demonstrators gathered at Jeevanjee Gardens on the morning of Monday, December 22, 2025, and began their peaceful procession to seek an audience with President William Ruto regarding delayed compensation for victims of the 2024 and 2025 anti-government protests.
However, their journey was halted by police on high alert, who began pelting tear gas, forcing the group to scatter for safety. According to the parents, they resorted to the march after legal efforts to seek justice proved futile. "There are several cases that we filed in court a long time ago, but there have been delays in getting justice for our children. I call on the government to intervene and help us get justice," one protester said.
The demonstrators vowed to persist until President Ruto's administration addresses their demands. The incident occurred shortly after the arrest of two activists, Julius Kamau and Collins Otieno, at Jeevanjee Gardens over alleged plans to organize the march. They were detained by heavily armed uniformed officers and taken to Central Police Station, where they remain.
Kamau posted on his X account: "I have been arrested. We are at the central police station to join the mothers of victims of police. They arrested Collins Otieno and me." The arrests drew condemnation from other activists, including Hussein Khalid, who commented: "Shame. Why arrest someone for standing with the mothers of victims? NPS remains largely a force and not a service. Instead of serving the people, they’re violating the people. Free Julius Kamau."
The families had announced the march a day earlier in a formal notice to police, stating the peaceful procession would start at Jeevanjee Gardens at 9 a.m. en route to State House. They accused the government of delaying justice and compensation, despite a presidential proclamation on August 8, 2025, establishing a reparations framework for victims of police brutality.
