The National Police Service has dismissed as fake a viral social media post alleging that Inspector General Douglas Kanja issued a ‘shoot to kill’ order against protesting residents in Githurai.
In a statement issued on Friday, the police service cautioned the public against circulating unverified information, saying the graphic making rounds online did not originate from the Office of the Inspector General.
The viral post, branded with a local news logo and dated February 19, 2026, purported to quote the police chief warning that residents blocking roads with stones and burning tyres would be shot. It also appeared to threaten tough action against anyone disrupting peace.
However, the police termed the graphic misleading and reaffirmed that no such directive had been issued. The service emphasised that all security operations are guided by the Constitution, particularly on the use of force and management of public order.
The clarification follows two days of protests by Githurai residents along the Thika Superhighway, which disrupted transport and business activities on the busy route.
The demonstrations were sparked by demolitions carried out by the Kenya National Highways Authority targeting roadside stalls built on road reserves. Traders accused the agency of acting abruptly and without adequate public participation or a clear relocation plan.
On Wednesday evening, excavators moved in to bring down the structures. By Thursday morning, angry residents had barricaded sections of the highway near the Githurai overpass and set tyres ablaze, bringing traffic to a standstill.
Police officers were later deployed to disperse the protesters and restore order along the highway.
The latest development now shifts attention to the growing challenge of misinformation online, even as tensions remain high among affected traders seeking answers over the demolitions.
