Tensions Erupt: Student Shot Dead, Police Station Burned as Ruto Faces Growing Unrest

Kenya is once again on edge as public anger over police brutality and unaddressed grievances continues to ignite violent protests. On Tuesday, July 9, enraged residents in Nyamira County torched the Itibo Police Station after a student from Nyamira National Polytechnic was allegedly shot dead by a police officer during a protest. 

The fatal incident occurred at Itibo Market, where students and residents had taken to the streets to demand better infrastructure, highlighting poor roads and lack of security lighting in the area.  

The protest, which initially began peacefully, turned into chaos after the young student was gunned down in what many are calling another brutal example of excessive force. 

The identity of the student and full details surrounding the shooting remain unclear, but images shared online show the Itibo Police Station reduced to ashes, with significant property losses reported. 

This latest eruption is not an isolated case. It reflects a growing trend of community outrage in Kenya, where fatal police actions are being met with violent retaliation. 

Just days earlier, on July 3, residents in Homa Bay County set Mawego Police Station ablaze during the funeral procession of Albert Ojwang.  

Ojwang, who had been arrested on June 7 and detained at the station before being transferred, died under controversial circumstances. Mourners, chanting dirges to ward off evil spirits, stormed the station with his body, setting it on fire in a dramatic display of public fury. 

On June 27, the Ndunyu Njeru Police Station in Nyandarua County suffered a similar fate. Residents torched the building after a man was reportedly shot dead during a protest against rampant cattle theft. Witnesses say police opened fire while attempting to control the angry demonstrators. 

This marked the second such incident in just a day, following the torching of the same station on June 26 after a separate police-involved shooting. The spiral of violence and destruction reflects deep-rooted frustration with law enforcement and a justice system many believe is failing them. 

Kenyans are demanding answers, and accountability. As the flames of public anger continue to spread, pressure is mounting on President William Ruto’s administration to address police brutality, protect civil liberties, and urgently respond to the grievances of an increasingly restless population. 

With each torched station, the message from the people is becoming louder: enough is enough.