One Dead, Several Injured in Matuu as Gen Z Protests Turn Violent
A man was shot dead and several others were injured on Wednesday following violent confrontations between police and protesters in Matuu, Machakos County, during the nationwide Gen Z-led demonstrations.
According to eyewitnesses, the victim was fatally wounded when a group of demonstrators attempted to storm the Matuu Police Station. The protesters, chanting anti-government slogans, were met with tear gas and live ammunition as officers tried to repel the crowd.
Scenes of chaos erupted around the station, with several injured protesters seen being carried away by their colleagues. The area was quickly engulfed in tension, as police intensified efforts to regain control.
Elsewhere in Machakos County, protesters barricaded sections of major highways. In Mlolongo, demonstrators lit tyres on the Nairobi–Mombasa Highway, blocking traffic and prompting a swift response from police who used tear gas to disperse the crowds. Running battles ensued along the Nairobi Expressway, heightening tensions in the area.
In Machakos town, police were also forced to use tear gas canisters to scatter crowds gathered in protest.
In neighboring Makueni County, protesters blocked key sections of the highway at Emali, Makindu, Kibwezi, and Sultan Hamud. Demonstrators said they were marching to honor Gen Z activists who have died in previous protests.
“Today, we are here for the memorial of all Gen Zs who have died at the hands of police. They weren’t criminals—they were killed for exercising their constitutional rights,” said Isaac Wambua, one of the protestors.
Many of the demonstrators, dressed in black and holding candles, described the protests as peaceful until provoked.
“We are unarmed, carrying only candles and face masks. We came in peace. An injury to one youth is an injury to all youths. Some have been killed in police cells, others on the streets. We are peaceful, but if teargassed, we have to retaliate,” Wambua added.
The protests, part of a growing national movement spearheaded by Kenya’s youth, continue to expose a widening rift between security agencies and citizens demanding justice, accountability, and reform.
In other news:Katiba Institute Sues Over Police Barricades in Nairobi CBD
One Dead, Several Injured in Matuu as Gen Z Protests Turn Violent