We thought we ended the era of police brutality and state goons
Armed goons along Moi Avenue in Nairobi on June 17, 2025 during protests following the death of Kenyan blogger Albert Ojwang, who died in police custody.
Early this month, democracy activists, civil society representatives, and ordinary citizens gathered at Nairobi’s All Saints Cathedral to review this year’s budget proposals. In the midst of deliberations, tens of goons stormed the cathedral, roughed up participants, stole phones and other items, and scuttled the meeting.
Police, who usually appear instantly to disrupt, beat or even kill peaceful demonstrators, did little. The reason would become apparent a few days later when a chief goon, speaking to journalist on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the invasion was planned by politicians and that plainclothes police participated in the invasion.
