Police fire tear gas as Huruma protesters demand answers on two missing youth

Police on Tuesday used tear gas canisters to disperse groups in Kiamaiko, Kariobangi North, Huruma and along Outer Ring Road in Nairobi as they staged a third protest over the disappearance of two residents.

The protesters used stones and boulders to block roads for several hours during the morning before police moved in to disperse them.

Some of the roads, including Outer Ring Road, had been cleared by 1 pm, police said. Some members of the public also reported being robbed during the unrest.

Among those reported missing is Huruma resident Abdulaziz Duba Molu, also known as Zizo. The other missing person was identified only as Kiarie. It remains unclear who is responsible for their disappearance.

Tuesday marked the third protest by the groups, who demanded that the two missing persons be accounted for.

Zizo has been missing for about a week since he was reportedly picked up from the area.

There has been no official confirmation on who is holding him or the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.

His friends and relatives have continued to call for information on his whereabouts and his release if he is in lawful custody.

Last week, residents staged two days of protests, blocking roads in the Huruma area while demanding information about his whereabouts.

One person was shot dead during the unrest.

Property was damaged during the chaos as anti-riot police sought to disperse the protesters.

Nairobi police commander Issa Mohamud said investigations into the incident are ongoing.

Police had earlier announced the arrest of six people and the recovery of two firearms and 18 rounds of ammunition during an operation conducted in Kayole, Umoja 3 and Kiamaiko in Huruma.

According to police, the operation followed investigations into reports of a pattern in which women allegedly targeted revellers, mainly licensed firearm holders, by spiking their drinks.

Police said the victims would lose consciousness, after which the women allegedly stole firearms and other valuables that investigators believed were later handed to other members of the group.

Police said forensic analysis linked two women to a rented house in Kayole, where officers recovered 15 rounds of ammunition.

According to police, the women later led officers to Umoja 3, where four other suspects were arrested, before proceeding to Huruma kwa Chege, where another suspect was arrested.

Police said the suspect was questioned before leading officers to a house in Kiamaiko, where two pistols identified as a Ceska and a Falcon, and three live rounds of ammunition, were recovered.

Police said preliminary investigations indicated that the Ceska pistol had been stolen from a police inspector based at Mowlem Police Station in Kamukunji on June 17, 2024, after he was reportedly confronted by a group of people at night.