Hussein Khalid attends to an injured officer on the streets of Nairobi during June 25 protests. /SCREENGRABAs Kenyans across the country took to the streets on Wednesday to mark the first anniversary of the Gen Z-led anti-government protests, a quiet moment of compassion in Nairobi’s CBD brought a glimmer of unity to an emotionally charged day.
Tensions ran high as anti riot police confronted protesters with tear gas and water cannons on the streets of Nairobi.
Amid the haze and uproar, human rights lawyer Hussein Khalid paused to attend to an injured officer.
In a video shared on X, Khalid gently wiped blood from the officer’s brow, with the man still wearing his helmet.
“Pole, pole, pole,” Khalid murmured (“sorry” in Kiswahili), before the two men shared a fist bump.
The officer then walked away, with his brother in arms whispering, “Na tunaumia bwana” (“And we are suffering, sir”), to which a man in Khalid’s group replied, “Usijali afande, sisi sote tuko pamoja” (Don’t worry officer, we are in this together).
Wednesday’s demonstrations, held under the sombre theme of healing and remembrance, reflected both grief and renewal from the devastating events of June 25, 2024.
That day claimed at least 20 lives in the capital alone, with over 200 people injured and human rights groups citing up to 60 deaths nationwide.
Across other major towns — from Mombasa and Kisumu to Eldoret and Nakuru — the memory of the day remained seared into the national psyche.
While the memory of that violent day remains vivid, this year’s gatherings were spurred by more recent grievances.
Just weeks ago, on June 8, teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang died in police custody under contested circumstances, setting off fresh protests in Nairobi and beyond on June 17.
Autopsy results pointed to physical assault, leading to the suspension and arrest of involved officers and intensifying calls for urgent police reform.
Meanwhile, the memory of that storming of Parliament and the lives lost remains potent, but so does the yearning for a Kenya where protesters and security agencies coexist without bloodshed.
Khalid’s show of humanity to an officer many would have treated as an enemy amid the rising tensions between civilians and police, offered a heartfelt reminder: empathy can be revolutionary too.
