Business and transport along the Nakuru–Kabarnet road in London area were paralyzed on Tuesday after youths took to the streets for a second day of protests following the fatal shooting of a middle-aged man by the police.

The youth, who had set up camp on the hill next to Gioto dump site, hurled stones at police officers who had come to clear the road. The protesters had earlier blocked the road and were reportedly demanding money from motorists to allow passage.

The situation quickly escalated as the youths began targeting and stoning oncoming vehicles, prompting police to launch tear gas in an attempt to prevent further damage.

Police lob teargas at youths who had set camp on a hill next to Gioto during protests against death of man shot by police. Photo taken on June 10,2025.

By around 1:30 p.m., the road had become completely impassable, with large stones blocking access near Gioto Police Post and lit tires on the road.

More youth continued throwing stones at vehicles from the hill.

The protesters said they were enraged by ongoing police harassment and the alleged extortion of bribes in London area, claiming that officers often turned violent when denied bribes.

The youth shouted in unison, expressing fearlessness and frustration over what they described as ongoing police brutality.
“Masanse, nyinyi ndo mnatufinyilia na kutuua,” they chanted from the hill.

Some of the protesters watch from the hill at Gioto dump site during protests in London estate on June 10,2025.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

At the scene Collins Kimei lamented on how the government is seemingly having a problem to maintain law and order resulting in citizens bearing the cost of their incompetence.

“My car has been hit and I have to part away with sh 5,000 to repair it. Worse off, yesterday I had to wait in town until 10 pm before going home because this road was blocked. I think the government needs to rethink the issue of security in Nakuru. How is a major road connecting Nairobi, Eldama Ravine and Eldoret blocked for hours, paralysing transport for hours,” he laments.

According to residents, the chaos began yesterday when about 10 police officers visited the area. Tensions flared after the officers reportedly demanded a bribe and were denied, prompting residents to join forces and confront them.

In the ensuing confrontation, stones were thrown at the officers, and a man was shot. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.

A police officer attempts to put out a tire lit by protesters along the Nakuru-Kabarnet road on June 10,2025.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

However, Nakuru County Police Commander Michael Mwaura gave a different account saying the officers were conducting a raid after arresting a youth in town for selling bhang (cannabis).

“The officers were being led by the young man to the location where the bhang was being sold when the community turned against them. In the process, they fired in the air to disperse the crowd, and a man was shot. He was pronounced dead at the hospital,” Mwaura stated.

By the time of publishing this report the youth and police were still engaging in a cat and mouse chase while motorists were forced to turn back to town and seek alternative routes to use.

Business owners too were forced to close their shops in fear of their premises being raided.

How repeated injustice has turned quiet Nakuru into a hotbed of fiery protests

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Leleti Jassor