BY ANGELA R. KIURA
Embu residents have condemned what they described as excessive police force during Saba Saba protests led by Gen Z youth on Monday.
The demonstrations, held to mark the 35th anniversary of the 1990 Saba Saba uprising, escalated into running battles between protesters and police, with residents in Dallas Estate, Majengo, Kangaru, and Kiambuthi accusing officers of firing tear gas into their homes.
“We were inside the house when suddenly tear gas canisters were thrown, and we found ourselves struggling to breathe. We were not part of the demonstrations, but now we are suffering for no reason,” said a resident from Dallas, who requested anonymity.
Earlier in the day, Embu West Police Commander Vincent Kitili had urged protesters to remain peaceful and avoid clashing with security officers.
However, chaos erupted by midday as hundreds of youth lit bonfires, barricaded roads, and confronted police in the town centre.
In response, police fired tear gas to disperse the crowds, with some canisters reportedly landing inside residential areas.
While some traders applauded the police for protecting their businesses, others took extra precautions by hiring local youth to guard their premises. The youth armed themselves with clubs to prevent looting.
“I’m grateful to the police for flushing out the hideouts where thugs were plotting to raid us,” said trader Esbon Gangara.
By evening, tension still hung in the air—alongside the choking remnants of tear gas—as questions grew over the necessity and legality of the heavy-handed police response.
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