When the Streets Cried Out: Survivors Speak in the Wake of Kenya’s Month-Long Maandamano
By Evan Muguna
🗓️ June 6–8: Death of Albert Ojwang in Custody
On June 6, 31-year-old teacher-blogger Albert Omondi Ojwang was arrested in Homa Bay for allegedly defaming Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat. His body was found in Nairobi’s Central Police Station two days later. Initially dismissed as a suicide, an independent autopsy conducted on June 8 confirmed injuries to the head, strangulation marks, and signs of torture.
Outrage & Official Response
The public erupted in anger. President William Ruto acknowledged Ojwang’s death at the hands of law enforcement and issued an apology. Eliud Lagat temporarily stepped aside from his duties. Three individuals, including two officers and a CCTV technician, were arrested in connection with Ojwang’s death.
🗓️ June 9–12: First Wave of Protests
In the days following Ojwang's death, protests erupted across the country, beginning in Nairobi and Mombasa. What started as peaceful demonstrations quickly escalated into violent encounters with the police. Tear gas choked the streets. Batons crushed bones. Civilians vanished without a trace. Journalists, too, were caught in the storm. Among the injured was journalist Winnie Chepkemoi, highlighting that media personnel were not spared the wrath.
🗓️ June 17: Boniface Kariuki Shot in Nairobi
June 17 became a symbol of brutality. During a peaceful demonstration in Nairobi, Boniface Kariuki, a 22-year-old street vendor, was shot in the head at point-blank range by a police officer. He had only come to sell face masks.
A graphic video of the incident circulated online, igniting further fury. Kariuki remains in critical condition, unconscious and connected to a ventilator. The officer responsible has been arrested, but justice remains uncertain.
That same day, hooded men on motorbikes attacked protesters. Amid the chaos, at least one person died and many were wounded.
🧹 Survivor Accounts: A Mosaic of Trauma
A 2023 Amnesty International report exposed systematic abuse by police in Kisii and Kisumu: 11 killed, 100+ injured, and evidence of lethal force against unarmed civilians.
One mother in Kisumu recalls tear gas being launched into her house. Her infant suffocated and died before help arrived. Another survivor showed a severed finger, cut clean by a bullet meant to maim.
Makena, a working mother in Nairobi, said:
"I became cast in a show I did not like… I felt so much fear."
Such voices carry the weight of a nation broken, again and again.
💔 The Human Cost
Physical Wounds:
Boniface Kariuki remains on life support.
Others have suffered amputations, broken limbs, and gunshot wounds.
Children affected by tear gas now suffer long-term respiratory issues.
Mental Scars:
Survivors report PTSD, anxiety, and sleeplessness.
Grieving families like that of Albert Ojwang struggle with depression and anger.
Economic Devastation:
A small business owner in Gikomba lost KSh 70,000 worth of goods.
Victims now face hospital bills exceeding KSh 180,000 with no financial relief.
🗣️ Demands for Justice
On May 4, 2025, 25 families launched a formal petition. Their demands:
Prosecution of killer cops.
Compensation to families of victims.
Independent vetting of corrupt officers.
Despite dozens of confirmed deaths since 2023, only two court cases have been opened.
Activists warn that the spiral of violence will never end without accountability.
🗓️ Where We Stand Today
Albert Ojwang's murder case is under review.
Boniface Kariuki clings to life in hospital.
Protests are expected to resume by June 24, 2025.
Government reforms remain largely symbolic.
📆 Conclusion: The Fight Goes On
Maandamano was never just about tax hikes or corruption. It became a movement of Gen Z, of parents, of teachers, of the poor and the voiceless.
The streets of Kenya cried out. The government responded with bullets and batons. But the people are not silent.
Their pain, their scars, and their stories are now written in the history of our nation.
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