A peaceful protest in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) took an unexpected turn on Wednesday June 25, 2025 after police lobbed teargas canisters at a group of youths who had turned a section of the street into a football pitch.
The demonstration, led largely by Gen Z, was part of a national day of remembrance for those killed during the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests. Hundreds gathered to honour the lives lost, demanding justice and accountability from the government.
Amidst the sombre mood, a group of youth broke into a spontaneous football match on the tarmac, drawing cheers from onlookers and boda boda riders who had temporarily halted their business to watch.
Laughter and shouts filled the air as the ball moved through the crowd. For a moment, the CBD became a scene of unity and resilience — a striking image of protest through play.
But the mood quickly shifted.
Without warning, police lobbed teargas into the group, sending people scattering in all directions. The ball bounced unattended as the street emptied out in a cloud of smoke and confusion.
The incident was captured on video, showing the sharp contrast between the peaceful protest tactics employed by the youth and the heavy-handed police response.
No injuries have been confirmed yet, but rights groups monitoring the protests have condemned the continued use of force against peaceful demonstrators.
Protests have been ongoing across the country, with today’s gatherings particularly being symbolic. Many of the protesters wore black, carried placards with the names of the deceased, and sang songs of resistance.
