Nairobi’s Central Business District descended into chaos on Friday, June 13, 2025, after enraged hawkers set a Nairobi City County vehicle ablaze near Afya Centre. The incident stemmed from a confrontation between the hawkers and county enforcement officers, commonly referred to as “kanjo.”
Video footage captured the dramatic scene, showing the vehicle overturned and engulfed in flames. Police were deployed to disperse the irate crowd using tear gas, as tensions mounted in the heart of the city.
Spark of Unrest
Eyewitnesses suggest that the chaos began after hawkers clashed with county askaris, alleging harassment and unfair treatment. Frustrated by the escalating tension, the hawkers retaliated, leading to the destruction of property.
Details regarding injuries or casualties remain unconfirmed, though initial reports suggest the situation was contained before further escalation.
Persistent Hawker-Askaris Clashes
Such confrontations between hawkers and city county officers are not new. Operating without authorization, hawkers often engage in cat-and-mouse games with enforcement officers in a bid to avoid arrests and confiscation of their goods.
Friday’s unrest highlights the long-standing tensions over the regulation of informal trade within the CBD, a challenge that city authorities have struggled to address effectively.
Chaos Amid Protests Over Influencer’s Death
The incident followed closely on the heels of another day of unrest in Nairobi. On Thursday, June 12, hundreds of protesters took to the streets over the death of popular social media influencer Albert Ojwang while in police custody.
The protesters demanded the resignation of Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat, accusing law enforcement of complicity in Ojwang’s demise. The protests, which disrupted major operations in the CBD, coincided with the presentation of the 2025/2026 national budget by Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi.
A City on Edge
Protesters marched through key areas, including City Hall, Jeevanjee Gardens, and Parliament Buildings, and occupied critical roads like Harambee Avenue. Police resorted to tear gas and other crowd-control measures to disperse the demonstrators, who displayed placards, carried twigs, and sang in unison while donning Kenyan flag colors.
As tensions remain high in Nairobi, these incidents underscore the growing frustration among citizens over issues of governance, justice, and economic hardship.
