CNN International Correspondent Larry Madowo is being hailed as a hero after stepping in to protect a group of peaceful protesters who had been cornered and tear-gassed by police officers in Nairobi\u2019s Central Business District on Wednesday, June 25.<\/p>\n
The incident occurred during memorial protests marking the anniversary of the 2024 anti-Finance Bill demonstrations. In footage that has since gone viral, visibly distressed protesters can be seen pleading with Madowo not to leave them, fearing for their lives after being trapped in a blocked alley by law enforcement.<\/p>\n
According to those present, the protesters were peacefully demonstrating when they were ambushed, beaten, and tear-gassed. \u201cWhat is going on? Why are you here?\u201d Madowo asked one young man, who was choking from the effects of the gas.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were just peaceful,\u201d the protester responded. \u201cTrying to express ourselves\u2026 but unfortunately, we were cornered and we\u2019ve been teargassed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Madowo then moved toward another section where police had reportedly forced several people\u2014including uniformed security guards\u2014to kneel. Visibly disturbed, the journalist challenged the officers: \u201cYou can\u2019t keep them here. They are suffocating. What are you doing? You can\u2019t do that!\u201d<\/p>\n
He grew increasingly frustrated as one officer threw another tear gas canister into the crowded space. \u201cAnd he\u2019s laughing,\u201d Madowo pointed out. \u201cHe just threw tear gas into a crowded alley and he\u2019s laughing.\u201d<\/p>\n
The CNN reporter also documented officers physically assaulting the protesters. \u201cLook at this\u2014they\u2019re beating them. These are prison officers, not trained for crowd control. They are using excessive force. Even security guards are being rounded up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Several protesters turned to Madowo for protection. \u201cWe were demonstrating peacefully,\u201d one said. \u201cWe\u2019re only armed with our phones. We are afraid for our lives.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another protester, pointing to uniformed guards among the group, asked why they too had been detained. One plea struck a chilling chord: \u201cLarry ukienda tutauliwa\u201d<\/strong>\u2014Swahili for \u201cLarry, if you leave, we\u2019ll be killed.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Moved by their desperation, Madowo responded with action. \u201cLet\u2019s go,\u201d he told them, urging the group to leave with him and escape the dangerous situation.<\/p>\n Kenyans across social media platforms have since applauded Madowo for his quick thinking and courageous intervention, crediting him with potentially saving lives in a moment of crisis.<\/p>\n As calls for accountability and reform continue to grow, Larry Madowo\u2019s act of bravery has become a powerful symbol of solidarity and resistance in the face of state violence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" CNN International Correspondent Larry Madowo is being hailed as a hero after stepping in to protect a group of peaceful protesters who had been cornered and tear-gassed by police officers in Nairobi\u2019s Central Business District on Wednesday, June 25. The incident occurred during memorial protests marking the anniversary of the 2024 anti-Finance Bill demonstrations. In […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6069,"featured_media":227661,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[138280,310],"tags":[142],"class_list":["post-227660","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-entertainment","tag-larry-madowo-news"],"yoast_head":"\nPublic Applause<\/h3>\n