Plain clothes officers disperse protesters with teargas in Nairobi

Masked police officers lob teargas/SCREENGRAB

A group of plainclothes police officers have been spotted dispersing protesters in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) during demonstrations sparked by the death of Albert Ojwang, who died in police custody.

In videos circulating online, the officers, dressed in civilian clothes with some wearing masks to conceal their identities, were seen lobbing teargas canisters along Kenyatta Avenue, causing panic and scattering crowds.

Several protesters were seen fleeing the scene and covering their faces as clouds of tear gas filled the air.

The demonstrations, largely peaceful at the start, quickly descended into chaos after armed goons, some on motorbikes and others wielding clubs, were spotted.

Some suspected goons who infiltrated the ongoing protests engaged in mugging pedestrians, especially in backstreets east of Moi Avenue.

So brazen were the daylight muggings that in some incidents, escaping pedestrians were pursued into matatus where they had gone to seek refuge.

Earlier during the day, at least one motorcycle was torched and its rider injured after protesters clashed with suspected goons.

Protesters cornered a young man who was among a group riding on about 30 motorbikes, beating him senseless and leaving him for dead.

The riders had reportedly begun attacking demonstrators demanding justice for the late teacher and social media influencer, Albert Ojwang’, who died in police custody on June 7.

Several individuals riding motorcycles had entered the CBD in what appeared to be an attempt to disrupt the ongoing protests, but were met with resistance.

Security has since been heightened across the CBD, with uniformed and undercover officers stationed along major streets.