One shot dead, two injured in protest over missing Huruma youths in Mathare, Nairobi

At least one person was shot and killed in fresh protests over two missing locals in Huruma, Nairobi.

Two others were injured in clashes between police and protesters. Police said the victims had been attacking and robbing innocent residents and blocking roads when they were targeted. However, another senior officer said they were investigating the shooting.

The unrest came as locals brought businesses in the area to a standstill for the third time over the disappearance of Huruma youth Abdulaziz Duba Molu, also known as Zizo. The other missing youth was identified as Maxwell Kiarie. The two have been missing since last week.

Locals have been demanding their release.

The killing on Tuesday brought to two the number of people killed since the protests began last week.

Police used teargas canisters to disperse groups in Kiamaiko, Kariobangi North, Huruma and along Outer Ring Road in Nairobi as they clashed with protesters for the third time over the disappearance of the two locals.

The groups used stones and boulders to block roads for hours during the better part of the morning before police arrived to disperse them.

Some roads, including Outer Ring Road, had been cleared by 1 pm, allowing police and road users to access them. Some people complained that they had been robbed during the chaos.

Those behind the alleged disappearances are not known, but locals said they suspect government agencies were responsible.

Tuesday marked the third time the groups had protested and demanded that the missing persons be produced.

Zizo was arrested by police in 2024 over the alleged illegal possession of a pistol.

Police had rounded up a gang of six and recovered two firearms and 18 rounds of ammunition in a sting operation conducted in Kayole, Umoja 3 and Kiamaiko in Huruma.

The pursuit of the gang, comprising two women and four men, including Zizo, began after Nairobi-based detectives led by crime researchers stationed in the region uncovered a trend in which club-hopping women spiked the drinks of targeted revellers, mostly those licensed to carry firearms.

Once stupefied and knocked unconscious, the women allegedly disappeared with the firearms and other valuables, arming their four-man team, which unleashed terror in their neighbourhoods.

However, the gang's activities came to an end when forensic analysis led investigators to the two women, in whose rented house in Kayole officers recovered 15 rounds of ammunition.

Upon interrogation, the women led officers to Umoja 3, where their suspected accomplices were arrested, before proceeding to Huruma kwa Chege, where a fifth suspect, Zizo, was arrested. Zizo was briefly interrogated, leading the team to a house in Kiamaiko where two pistols (Ceska and Falcon) and three live rounds were recovered.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the Ceska pistol had been stolen from an inspector of police based at Mowlem Police Station in Kamukunji on June 17, 2024, after he was accosted by members of the gang at night.

Zizo has now been missing for a week after he was reportedly picked up from the area. Police said he is a known criminal involved in drug trafficking and robberies.

There is no official confirmation on who is holding him or why. He has not been presented before a court as would be expected if he had been arrested.

His friends and relatives continue to demand his release.

Locals staged two days of protests, blocking roads in the Huruma area last week as they demanded his release.

One person was shot and killed during the unrest.

Property was destroyed in the chaos as anti-riot police moved in to disperse the protesters.

Nairobi police commander Issa Mohamud said they are investigating the incident.