Tensions have escalated in Nairobi’s Central Business District on Wednesday as clashes between protestors and police turned violent along Kenyatta Avenue.
In a dramatic scene captured on video, a female police officer narrowly escaped death after being overwhelmed by an aggressive crowd of protestors.
Eyewitnesses say the officer had been part of a unit trying to disperse demonstrators when she became isolated during the chaos.
Protestors hurled stones at the policewoman and other officers, forcing her to retreat as others closed in.
However, just moments before the situation worsened, a backup team of anti-riot police officers arrived in a police truck and managed to rescue her from the enraged crowd.
The timely intervention likely saved her life, as officers swiftly formed a protective barrier around her and provided immediate assistance at the scene.
The protests, which initially started peacefully in the morning, took a violent turn in parts of the CBD, especially along Kenyatta Avenue and Moi Avenue.
A group of police officers in full anti-riot gear could be seen retreating under pressure, some even picking up stones and throwing them back at the protesters.
The standoff saw heavy use of tear gas by police, while protesters responded with makeshift barricades, chants, and projectiles.
The incident unfolded amid ongoing Gen-Z-led demonstrations
that have rocked the capital and other cities across Kenya, as thousands of
protesters converged.
