Police on horses disperse crowd outside Mama Ngina Street in Nairobi

Police on horses

A group of police officers was deployed to disperse protestors gathered along Mama Ngina Street in Nairobi, amid the ongoing nationwide Gen-Z-led demonstrations.

In a video seen, the officers—riding horses and armed with sticks—were seen moving swiftly through a crowd, attempting to scatter the protesters who had begun converging in the area.

The officers, clad in riot gear, issued verbal commands as they manoeuvred through the street, telling the protesters, "Rudi. Tusonge hivi” (Go back. Let’s move this way) in an attempt to redirect or break up the gathering.

Some protesters quickly scattered upon seeing the mounted police advance, while a few remained defiant for a moment before retreating.

Amid the commotion, several boda boda riders were seen manoeuvring through the crowd, weaving past protesters and police officers as they continued with their morning routines.

The nationwide protests are largely seen as a commemoration of the one-year anniversary since the 2024 Finance Bill demonstrations, which marked a turning point in youth-led civic action in Kenya.

What began last year as spontaneous, online-driven resistance to controversial tax proposals has since evolved into a broader movement demanding accountability, transparency, and responsive governance.