Newspapers on Wednesday, April 22, reported on the failed demonstration that was planned for Tuesday, with the leaders of the Opposition being highlighted for their failure to show up despite advising Kenyans to come out in large numbers and protest against high fuel prices.
Source: UGC
The Star
Leader of the opposition Rigathi Gachagua he was not there while the anti-riot police dispersed a small group of young people who came out to protest against the rise in fuel prices.
His partners Kalonzo Musyoka and Fred Matiang’i also went into hiding, leaving young activists to face arrest under the #RejectFuelPrices banner.
The streets of Nairobi continued with normal activities, a stark contrast to the online noise that dominated social media in the days leading up to the protests.
Unlike the big “demonstrations” of the past, where Raila Odinga joined his supporters in the front line, this time the main leaders stayed away.
Gachagua had described the protest as a Generation Z thing, saying the youth had the right to organize and express their anger as part of democratic participation.
However, without cultural mobilization or visible leadership, the campaign failed, despite the power of the Internet that had gathered hashtags such as “Tuesday is Tuesday” and “Tuesday Total Shutdown.”
The government had already declared the protests illegal, with Nairobi police citing a lack of official information.
Regional Commander Issa Mohamud warned that action will be taken against the protesters, while the Deputy President Kithur Kindiki dismissing the protests as unnecessary, saying that street protests cannot lower global oil prices, which he attributed to tensions in the Middle East.
National Today
Taifa Leo reserved space for the arrest of people who made the protest on Tuesday.
Several people were arrested in various parts of the country, while unrest was reported in several cities.
The Nairobi Regional Police Commander, Issa Mohamud, confirmed that 11 people were arrested in the Central City area after protesting, stressing that they did not have a permit.
Speaking to reporters while reviewing the situation in the city, Mr. Mohamud said the situation was stable with more than 98 percent of businesses continuing to operate as usual.
“So far we have arrested 11 and they will be brought to court tomorrow,” he said, adding that there was no reason for the public to fear.
However, many businesses were closed for fear of mob attacks as tension gripped the city.
Mohamud appealed to traders who had closed their shops for fear of violence to return to their businesses, stressing that the police were ready to ensure peace.
The protest was sparked by a call that went viral online, where young people were protesting against the increase in fuel prices announced by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).
Many complained about the rising cost of living, saying the prices of transport, food and essential goods were too expensive.
In Nairobi, the number of protesters was smaller compared to previous demonstrations, with the police controlling the situation early and dispersing those who had gathered.
In Embu, the situation was different where hundreds of youths took to the streets and caused chaos.
They burned tires, blocked roads and forced merchants to close their shops for fear of looting.
The police arrived and ordered them to disperse but they refused, leading to violent clashes between them and security officials.
The city turned into chaos as residents and merchants fled.
In Kiritiri, Mbeere South, youths blocked the Embu-Kiritiri road, causing heavy traffic.
Daily Nation
The newspaper reported on the Minister of the Interior Dating MurkomenKapseret MP Oscar Sudi and his Gatundu North counterpart Elijah Kururia are involved in a long-running family dispute over a luxury estate in Runda, which includes the popular Paradise Lost entertainment complex.
Daniel Mwangi Mbugua and his daughter Wanjiru have filed a case in the Kiambu High Court to compel the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to investigate three leaders accused of being involved in the illegal seizure of 300 acres of land worth about KSh 20 billion.
The parcels, registered as LR 5974/1, 5972 and 5971, are part of the property of the late businessman Mbugua Mwangi, who died in 2008 and owned large properties through Ndunde Investments, including Misahara and Kasarini coffee plantations and his holdings in Kangemi, Runda, Ruiru and Karen.
In their filings, the plaintiffs claim that the leaders are protecting more than 200 people who have taken the land illegally, while parts of it have already been transferred to Pamat Enterprises Limited.
They continue to claim that police officers at the Kiambu station have collaborated with alleged land grabbers and that meetings have been held to expropriate their inheritance.
Mbugua has also mentioned his brothers, Isaac Gichia Mbugua and Joseph Mbai Mbugua, as interested parties, accusing them of collaborating with the robbers to separate him and his daughter, although the brothers insist that they are also victims.
Kururia denied the charges, saying that some residents were given the land by the government in the 1980s and that Pamat Enterprises Limited acquired the land legally.
He claimed that there had been no invasion of Paradise Lost and that the claimants did not understand the boundaries of the land.
The court has ordered the plaintiffs to share their documents with all parties, while Pamat Enterprises has yet to respond.
The crisis underscores the growing problem of land grabbing in Kenya, where fraudulent documents have fueled numerous court cases, particularly in the housing sector.
Buyers often discover fraud only after the projects have stalled, leading to lawsuits against project developers for fraud and misrepresentation.
Mbugua and his daughter also claim their lives are in danger, citing threats and an attempted attack on April 13, 2026, while Wanjiru claims he saw Murkomen in the area accompanied by armed men.
Records show that Pamat Enterprises Limited was registered in 1984 and is located in Lavington, Nairobi, with directors including Philip Mulwa Nzioka, Isaya Begi Gesicho, Black Scorpion International Services Limited, ICPHER Consultants Co Ltd and Dawn Innovations.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
