Protests In Kasarani Over Murder Of 19-Year-Old Woman
Witnesses said the 19-year-old was discovered dead inside her mother’s home, with locals alleging she had been assaulted before being killed.
Marvin Chege 
On Friday, June 20, residents of Kasarani Estate in Nairobi held protests following the brutal murder of a young girl by unknown individuals.
The angry demonstrators had blocked the Sunton-Kasarani road with a bonfire, disrupting business activities for much of the morning and afternoon. Footage circulating online showed groups of youths marching down the road, waving twigs and holding placards as they demanded justice for the victim.
Witnesses said the 19-year-old, yet to be identified at the time of going to press, was discovered dead inside her mother’s home, with locals alleging she had been assaulted before being killed.
Reports revealed that the girl's body was discovered on a sofa, with blood flowing from her neck and mouth—evidence of the gruesome nature of the crime. Some witnesses said the 19-year-old had just finished high school and was preparing to join a tertiary institution.
Residents stage demonstrations in Kasarani Estate over the death of a 19-year-old girl. /X
Protest footage captured thick black smoke rising from burning debris, as some residents watched the chaos unfold from their balconies.
The demonstrations brought traffic along the Kasarani-Roysambu road to a standstill, forcing drivers to seek alternate routes as tensions rose. A team of armed police later arrived at the scene, with the area OCS briefly engaging with residents before departing.
Despite the police response, residents vowed to continue protesting until justice is served. Authorities have since launched investigations into the killing.
The Kasarani protests followed similar unrest in Thome Estate the previous day, where residents demonstrated over the alleged murder of a young man on Wednesday night, with locals accusing the police of trying to cover up the incident after the man's body was discovered in the morning, prompting road blockades within the area.
Reports have since revealed that a licensed firearm holder was arrested over the murder of the young man, revealed to have worked as a liquor deliveryman. The victim, 25-year-old Joel Austin Macharia Maina, was fatally shot in the head shortly after midnight.
Police reports stated that the shooting happened inside a Land Rover Defender parked at a petrol station, where Maina had gone to deliver liquor. The suspect told police that a dispute broke out between him and Maina inside the vehicle. He claimed that Maina tried to seize his firearm, which allegedly led to a struggle and the gun discharging “accidentally.”
However, Kasarani Sub-County Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss Alloyce Mboya noted that the bullet entered through the left side of Maina’s head and exited on the right—evidence pointing to a close-range shot.
Maina’s body was found slumped in the driver's seat of the suspect’s car, with blood splattered around the area. After the shooting, the suspect reportedly fled but was later apprehended by police.
