Media and citizen journalists strike a blow for democracy

Rarely have Kenya’s mainstream media and citizen journalists converged so powerfully to defend public interest as they did this past week, when State-sponsored goons violently disrupted peaceful Gen Z-led protests. 

In a context where police brutality, political manipulation and disinformation have routinely undermined civil liberties, this unified media response was a powerful reminder of journalism’s democratic function.

The events of Tuesday were grimly familiar: marauding gangs were unleashed on peaceful demonstrators—a tired and cynical tactic long employed by the political elite to criminalise protest, sow fear and justify State violence. The same playbook was used in June last year, when youth-led protests were similarly hijacked by violent elements to delegitimise what were otherwise peaceful expressions of discontent.

What unfolded this week was not spontaneous chaos—it was a coordinated assault on constitutional freedoms. The gangs, escorted by police and county security personnel, attacked protesters, looted shops and wreaked havoc in Nairobi’s central business district.

The goal was unmistakable: derail the momentum of citizen-led protest, reframe the demonstrators as violent thugs, and ultimately manufacture a pretext to ban public assemblies—especially ahead of next week’s memorial protest for victims of last year’s deadly crackdowns. It could also signal a broader strategy to undermine Kenyans’ constitutional right to peaceful assembly in the lead-up to the 2027 General Election.

But this time, the plan didn’t work.

From the outset, both mainstream media and citizen livestreamers distinguished clearly between peaceful protesters and violent infiltrators. Cameras rolled as the thugs arrived in the city centre, many on motorcycles, and proceeded to rob, assault and vandalise—in full view of passive or complicit police officers. Some journalists even captured goons being helped into police trucks for medical care after they were injured—an image that underscored the disturbing collusion between law enforcement and criminal actors.

Citizen journalism amplified this reality. Livestreams and video clips spread rapidly across social platforms, showing not only the violence, but also the courage of protesters, business owners and boda boda riders who fought to protect their communities from chaos. 

These images did more than just inform—they provided a shield for demonstrators, making it harder for the State to justify its usual repression. They also laid bare the systemic rot within State institutions, where the public interest is routinely criminalised and democratic dissent violently suppressed to serve executive expediency.

Indeed, public outrage reached a new peak when video footage emerged of police officers brutally assaulting and shooting a vendor. The swift interdiction and arrest of the implicated officers speak to the power of real-time documentation and accountability. 

In Nakuru, the media again did its duty, with NTV exposing a case where a boda boda operator was allegedly robbed and strangled by individuals later found in police uniform. After initially being turned away by the Officer Commanding Station, media attention prompted the County Police Commander to promise an investigation.

The Nation Media Group’s Editorial Guidelines explicitly champion the rule of law and uphold democratic values as popularly understood. The editors and reporters deserve plaudits for risking life and limb to deliver the most impactful story of the week, striking a powerful blow in defence of civic liberties and democratic accountability.

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Who is fooling whom, Sakaja?

Glaring questions remain, particularly for Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja.

In the aftermath of what one journalist described as “orchestrated mayhem”, Sakaja released a statement dissociating himself from the gangs that infiltrated Tuesday’s protest and condemning the shooting of a vendor. But was the governor of a city turned into a battleground simply taking the easy path?

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino accused Sakaja of sponsoring the goons who brazenly robbed, beat pedestrians and looted shops. He was not alone—social media lit up with videos of the gangs shouting pro-Sakaja chants and claiming they were “protecting the city” on his behalf. In one clip, a gang member directly addresses the governor, saying: “We have done our part.”

This raises uncomfortable questions. Is this what Sakaja meant when, days before the protest, he vowed to “protect Nairobi”? As the city’s chief executive, what measures did he put in place to ensure the safety of citizens and property? Where were county security teams during the chaos? Who are these gangs, and who funds, arms and deploys them?

Despite all this, the Nation platforms stopped short of holding Sakaja to account. The soft handling of his statement stands in stark contrast to the overwhelming visual evidence pointing to coordinated violence. Who is fooling whom? The public witnessed the mayhem. The cameras rolled. The facts are out there.

Silence on these questions not only undermines accountability, but it also emboldens those who wish to use violence against civic freedoms.

In the face of deepening democratic backsliding, this week’s events affirmed two critical truths: first, that citizen journalism and independent media remain vital checks on power; and second, that freedom of assembly is not a privilege granted by the State, but a right enshrined in the Constitution.

The public is watching. And thanks to the vigilance of journalists and ordinary citizens with smartphones, the truth is harder to silence.

Maraga’s presidential bid: Fair play or favouritism?

Meanwhile, in a different media moment, Chief Justice Emeritus David Maraga seemingly surprised NMG Editor-in-Chief Joe Ageyo by announcing—during a live interview—that he will be running for president in 2027.

While the interview shifted gears smoothly into election mode, offering Mr Maraga a national platform to promote his political vision, questions of fairness inevitably arise.

Going forward, Nation editors must ensure equitable access to airtime for all presidential hopefuls, lest the line between journalism and campaigning become too blurred.

Contact the Public Editor to raise ethical concerns or request a review of published material. Reach out: [email protected]