Molo protests: Student shot dead, fire truck torched

A teenage student was shot dead, a police officer was seriously injured, and government property worth millions was destroyed after violent protests rocked Molo town during Wednesday’s Gen-Z anniversary demonstrations.

A stray bullet is said to have hit Dennis Njuguna Ngugi, 17, a Form Three student at Njenga Karume Secondary School, killing him on the spot.

According to an OB report filed at Molo Police Station, the protests began peacefully around 9:30 a.m. with over 500 youths gathering at Tayari and Keepleft areas.

 But the situation escalated by noon when a crowd of nearly 800 more joined the march at Peace area heading toward Munju.

The protesters began pelting vehicles with stones and blocking the Molo–Elburgon road with bonfires.

Officers from the GSU Jolly Farm Camp tried to control the crowd but were overwhelmed.

“The mob surrounded our team and stoned the officers. One of them, Constable Samuel Waititu, lost a tooth,” the police report said.

The police fired in the air to disperse the crowd.

Two other protesters were injured.

Frank Mirithu, 19, a student at Turi Secondary, sustained a leg injury.

By 5:00 p.m., the crowd, now about 2,000 strong, marched to Molo Police Station, attempting to overrun it.

In the chaos, they burned down the police dog kennel, looted a Coca-Cola kiosk at the gate, vandalised market stalls, and stole from nearby shops.

Security reinforcements arrived from Njoro, Kuresoi South, and two GSU sections, but the crowd moved to Molo Sub-County Municipal Offices.

There, they set ablaze a fire engine, a water bowser, three vehicles, and a tractor. At around 8:00 p.m., the mob broke into Capital Supermarket and looted goods of unknown value.

Three suspects were arrested while allegedly escaping with stolen items.

“The group also tried to attack the MP’s residence but were repulsed by security teams,” the report noted.

Police drawn from APS Molo, ASTU Elburgon, and several surrounding sub-counties helped contain the threat.

The body of the deceased student was moved to Molo Sub-County Mortuary for autopsy.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has been notified and investigations are ongoing, police said.