Children, cows and baboons caught up in chaotic #FreeBrian protests
A cow caught in the middle of the protestors and police who were lobbying teargas at the crowd in Kivumbini on January 24, 2025.
The residents of Kivumbini have experienced mayhem and chaos over the past six days. A group of youths vowed not to back down until Brian Odhiambo is returned to them, either dead or alive.
While running battles are a norm in this case, the "Free Brian" protests have had a unique aspect to them.
Whenever the sounds of gunfire rang out and tear gas was lobbed, one could also spot cows and sheep, scampering to safety.
Cows seen fleeing as police lob tear gas at protestors in Kivumbini on January 24, 2025.
We found out from a local resident, Caro, that the cows belonged to one of the locals who is well-known in the area.
“These cows usually come to graze along the road as you head toward Lake Nakuru National park. In the afternoon, you’ll often see them under the tree. At the end of the day, they always make their way home,” she says.
Additionally, the area around Kivumbini, especially the road leading to the park, is often visited by a troop of baboons.
However, this was not the case last week; there was no sign of them during the protests except one baboon who was fleeing with its offspring on its back.
A baboon seen fleeing with its infant after the sounds of gunshots rung in the air at Kivumbini during the free Brian protests on January 24, 2025.
While the police were busy firing tear gas at the irate crowd on Friday, we spoke with Eunice Wangui, who shared that many children in the area have been staying home from school out of fear of getting caught in the crossfire.
“All we want is Brian—return him to us, whether dead or alive. Our children are afraid to go to school for fear of being tear-gassed while in class. The loud gunshots and constant violence are affecting our children mentally. Give us Brian, so we can put an end to this,” she pleads.
Amidst the crowd, we noticed two minors fearlessly hurling stones at the police, then retreating back to safety.
At one point, the effects of the tear gas became too much for them, and we saw them washing their faces in a bucket of water that was being carried by one of the protesters.
Two children who joined the protests washed their faces to help in combating the effects of the tear gas in Kivumbini during the #FreeBrian protests on January 24, 2025.
Speaking to one of them, he said, “I should be in school, but I am here because I’m fighting for Brian. Tomorrow, it might be me who is taken, and I hope people will do the same for me.” He then ran off, chanting, “Tunataka Brayo!” (We want Brian!)
Looking at the crowd, it was evident that a significant number of children and women were at the forefront of the protests.
The Nakuru High Court has ordered the Nakuru East Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the officer in charge of Lake Nakuru National Park to produce Brian Odhiambo in court on January 28, 2025 (Today).