KAR 936D was erased from the NTSA records in 2017. The plate belonged to a 2006 Isuzu model lorry. KBR 954G was removed from the NTSA records in 2020. It belonged to Naloki Line, a 14-seater PSV matatu.
Two vehicles set ablaze in Nairobi’s Central Business District during protests demanding justice for the death of Albert Ojwang in police custody were staged, according to sources and an analysis of National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) records.
The incident, which occurred amid demonstrations calling for the arrest of Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat, has sparked allegations of a state-sponsored operation to discredit protesters.
The vehicles, bearing number plates KAR 936D and KBR 954G, were reportedly torched to portray the protests as violent.
However, investigations into NTSA records reveal that KAR 936D, registered to a 2006 Isuzu lorry, was deregistered in 2017.
Similarly, KBR 954G, linked to a 14-seater PSV matatu operated by Naloki Line, was removed from the NTSA registry in 2020.
Social media posts on X, including from prominent voices like @C_NyaKundiH and @Mkenya_7, allege that the vehicles were strategically placed and burnt to create a false narrative of chaos, diverting attention from Ojwang’s death.
“These are state-sponsored propaganda to demonstrate protesters are violent, while it’s contrary,” @Mkenya_7 posted, urging the public to verify NTSA records and scrutinise the scene’s staging.
The protests stem from outrage over the death of Albert Ojwang, a 31-year-old teacher and blogger who died in custody at Nairobi’s Central Police Station on June 7, 2025, after his arrest for a social media post allegedly tarnishing the reputation of DIG Lagat.
Police claim Ojwang sustained fatal head injuries after hitting a cell wall, but his family’s lawyer reported signs of severe physical trauma inconsistent with the official account.
