Deadly Ol-Kalou Protest Leaves 35 Government cars in Flames After Police Shooting
NAKURU — A peaceful protest marking the anniversary of Kenya’s deadly 2024 anti-finance bill demonstrations turned violent on Wednesday in Ol-Kalou town, leaving four buildings destroyed, 35 government vehicles torched, and public offices in ruins.
The violence erupted after a protester was shot dead by police in the Nyandarua County capital. Eyewitnesses said the demonstrator was unarmed and participating in a candlelit procession organized by Gen Z-led activists. The shooting instantly escalated tensions, fueling a rapid backlash against government property.
By nightfall, protesters had stormed the Ol-Kalou Police Station and set it ablaze. The Nyandarua Assistant County Commissioner’s compound was also attacked. Officials confirmed 26 vehicles belonging to the county government and 9 others from the national government were destroyed. Eleven county-owned motorcycles and seven more under national departments were also burned.
Public offices within the same compound, including the Registrar of Persons, the county’s public library, and the Security Enforcement Unit, were torched during the unrest.
Local reports indicated that the unrest spread quickly as news of the shooting traveled through the town. Witnesses said some government workers locked themselves in offices for safety until nearly 10:00 p.m. Journalists working at a nearby radio station also remained in hiding for hours.
“This was not random. People are angry,” said a resident who requested anonymity. “Last week, a woman miscarried in police custody. On Monday, a man reportedly died by suicide inside a cell. Then yesterday, they shot someone protesting peacefully. That’s what triggered this destruction.”
The full extent of the damage is still being assessed. Photographs from the scene show smoldering vehicle frames, blackened building walls, and shattered windows across multiple offices.
Nyandarua Governor Moses Kiarie Badilisha condemned the violence during a visit to the affected sites on Thursday morning. “This is a major blow to public service delivery. Losing this fleet paralyzes essential county services,” he said. He urged protesters to pursue accountability through peaceful channels and called for a formal investigation into the shooting and property destruction.
“There must be consequences for those who planned and carried out this violence, and also for any officer who acted unlawfully,” he said.
The protest in Ol-Kalou was part of a national day of remembrance marking one year since police opened fire on anti-finance bill demonstrators in June 2024. Dozens were killed last year in Nairobi and other towns during confrontations with law enforcement.
This year’s anniversary protests began as coordinated vigils across multiple counties. However, in both Nyeri and Nyandarua, they turned deadly.
In Nyeri County, four people were fatally shot and 27 others were injured following intense clashes between police and protesters. Two of the victims were killed in Karatina, one in Nyeri town, and one in Othaya.
A Naivas Supermarket in Nyeri town was looted and vandalized during the chaos, with residents alleging that more fatalities may have occurred inside the store. Police have not released any official confirmation.
Authorities have not yet issued a formal statement addressing the death in Ol-Kalou or the extensive damage. As of Thursday, no arrests had been confirmed.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority has not yet indicated whether it will launch an inquiry into the events in Nyandarua, though public pressure for answers continues to mount.
The violence comes amid growing frustration among Kenya’s youth over economic conditions, police brutality, and lack of government accountability. Wednesday’s events marked the deadliest political unrest in Nyandarua in years.
