Cars burn in Nairobi CBD on June 12, 2025, as protestors engage police in a running battle while demonstrating over the killing of Albert Ojwang’ [Boniface Okendo]
Dramatic scenes unfolded in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) today as multiple vehicles were engulfed in flames.
This happened during the ongoing protests over the death of 31-year-old digital creator Albert Ojwang.
The incident, captured in widely circulated images showing two burning cars with license plates KAR 936D and KBR 954G.
The motive has been a point of contention with many believing this was a well-orchestrated government ploy to dilute the protests.
The protestors were demanding justice for Ojwang, who was found dead in police custody following his arrest over alleged defamation charges.
Autopsy results revealed evidence of torture, contradicting initial police claims of self-inflicted injuries, further fuelling public outrage.
Hawkeyed netizens took up the matter and dug up information on the two cars.
At least two cars set ablaze as tensions between police and protesters escalate in Nairobi CBD
Video: Ndombi Dianah pic.twitter.com/fG7QoSzmhM
— The Standard Digital (@StandardKenya) June 12, 2025
They alleged that the burning vehicles were part of a state-orchestrated operation to discredit the protests.
Reports further surfaced that the licence plates were allegedly fraudulent, citing NTSA records showing KAR 936D was originally assigned to a 2006 Isuzu lorry and the information was deleted from NTSA database in 2017.
While KBR 954G was linked to a 14-seater matatu which also was removed in the system in 2020.
While the same continued to generate debate online, reports further has it that a police officer from Central Police Station has been arrested and is in custody at Capitol Hill Police Station and is set to face murder charges under Sections 203 and 204 of the Penal Code, linked to Ojwang’s death.