Kenya, March 13 -- Chaos erupted at Ayany Primary School in Kibra today as police clashed with a group of youths attempting to access an event attended by President William Ruto.
The confrontation unfolded during the president's visit to the area, part of his ongoing Nairobi development tour, leaving several young people injured and sparking outrage among residents.
Eyewitnesses reported that the trouble began when a crowd of youths surged toward the school, where Ruto was addressing locals and serving lunch as part of a school feeding program.
Armed police officers, stationed to secure the venue, quickly intervened, using batons to disperse the group. Videos circulating online showed officers beating some of the youths, even as they tried to retreat, while others were forcibly blocked from entering the school grounds.
"They were just trying to see the president, but the police started hitting them without warning," said Jane Atieno, a Kibra resident who witnessed the incident.
"Some of them were bleeding-it was unnecessary force." The event, which included Ruto's announcement to abolish fees for national ID cards, had drawn a large crowd eager to hear from the head of state.
However, tensions escalated as security personnel tightened control, citing safety concerns. Several of the youths who managed to breach the perimeter were reportedly roughed up inside the compound before being ejected.
Nairobi County Police Commander Adamson Bungei defended the officers' actions, stating, "We had to maintain order.
The crowd was becoming unmanageable, and we couldn't risk the president's safety or disrupt the event." He added that investigations would be conducted into any allegations of excessive force.
The incident has reignited debates about police conduct in Kenya, especially in light of Ruto's recent truce with opposition leader Raila Odinga, which many had hoped would ease political tensions.
Local leaders condemned the violence, with Kibra community organiser Peter Owino calling it "a betrayal of the unity we were promised."
Meanwhile, Ruto continued his address inside the school, seemingly unfazed by the commotion outside. He pledged to transform Kibra into a modern estate within a decade and reiterated his administration's focus on development.
However, the day's events were overshadowed by the clash, with social media posts reflecting growing frustration among Kenyans over the heavy-handed response.
As the president's motorcade departed Kibra, the mood remained tense, with small groups of youths lingering near the school, some chanting slogans against the police.
The incident marks a turbulent moment in Ruto's Nairobi tour, which has already been marred by reports of a fatal accident involving his convoy earlier in the day.
Authorities have yet to confirm the number of injuries from the Ayany Primary School confrontation, but it has undeniably cast a shadow over what was intended as a celebratory visit.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Bana Kenya.