Death, burning cars and warning shots: What unfolded in Huruma overnight

thenamlola@gmail.com

Nearly 24 hours after violence rocked Huruma, the estate remains under heavy police watch.

Burnt-out vehicles still mark the streets, officers patrol major junctions, and residents move cautiously as tension simmers beneath a fragile calm.

“It is quiet, but people are still angry,” says a shopkeeper along Juja Road.

“We are waiting to see what comes next.”

The chain of events began on Saturday morning when a resident reported a violent robbery at Huruma Police Station.

According to police, five young men known to the complainant allegedly attacked him, robbed him of a silver chain and Sh1,800, and threatened to kill him.

Officers moved swiftly, arresting two suspects. Further investigations led to the arrest of two more suspects later that evening.

However, during the second arrest at around 7.30pm, the situation escalated.

“One of the suspects raised an alarm and incited other youths in the area,” said National Police Service spokesperson Mr Muchiri Nyaga.

“The youths responded by throwing stones and other projectiles at police officers in an attempt to obstruct them from executing their duties.”

Mr Nyaga said officers were forced to fire warning shots into the air to disperse the crowd.

“A short while later, information was received indicating that a member of the public had been fatally injured during the confrontation,” he said.

As news of the death spread, law and order broke down in Huruma. Angry youths took to the streets, blocking roads, confronting police, and setting two vehicles ablaze as residents fled indoors.

“It felt like the whole place was on fire,” recalls a resident Julius Maina, who watched from a nearby balcony.

“People were shouting, police were firing into the air, and everyone was running.”

By Sunday morning, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) had moved in, securing the scene and launching investigations.

Police say they are fully cooperating with the oversight body.

“We acknowledge the tragic death of a young person during the skirmishes,” Mr Nyaga said.

“We urge members of the public to allow the processes of transparency and accountability to take place and to desist from further acts of lawlessness to enable de-escalation.”

He added that IPOA has been at the scene since early morning, documenting the incident, as police continue to maintain order in the area.

Now, as Huruma waits for the findings of the investigation, questions continue to hang heavy in the air — who fired the fatal shot?

Will accountability be swift enough to prevent another night of unrest?