The National Police Service (NPS) has appealed for calm in Huruma, Nairobi, following violent confrontations that left one person dead and led to the torching of two vehicles, as investigations into the incident continue.
The police said the incident began on Friday morning after a robbery complaint was reported at Huruma Police Station.
The 21-year-old student was shot and killed in unclear circumstances in the Huruma area, Nairobi.
Locals said the woman, identified as Sheryl Adhiambo, was shot dead Saturday night, allegedly by police in Huruma Ngei I, Nairobi.
She was hit by a stray bullet as police pursued a suspected thug in the area.
Her killing has sparked protests where local residents engaged police in running battles overnight up to Sunday morning.
At least three cars were burnt, and the local police station was vandalised in the chaos.
Sheryl was a first-year student at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), locals said.
She had just finished her exams and was home to help her mum at a fish kiosk when the incident happened. Police said they were investigating the shooting.
Activities came to a halt on Saturday night and Sunday morning as residents protested the shooting of the woman.
Angry residents blocked roads, lit fires, and torched property, including buses and business stalls.
Gangs took advantage of the chaos to loot shops.
Security agencies later moved in to restore calm and shot in the air to be able to remove the body from the scene.
In statement on Sunday, the officers who responded to the report arrested two suspects at the scene, with further investigations leading to the arrest of two more suspects later in the evening.
“Yesterday, 7 February 2026, at around 08:00, a member of the public reported at Huruma Police Station that five young men known to him had attacked him, robbed him of a silver chain and Sh1,800 in cash, and threatened to kill him,” the statement read.
“Further inquiries led to the arrest of two more suspects at around 19:30.”
However, the situation escalated during the second arrest when one of the suspects allegedly alerted other youths in the area, triggering violent resistance against police officers.
“During this second arrest, one of the suspects raised an alarm and incited other youths nearby, who responded by throwing stones and other projectiles at the police in an attempt to obstruct the officers from executing their duties,” the statement said.
Police said officers were forced to fire warning shots into the air to disperse the crowd.
A short while later, police received reports that a member of the public had been fatally injured during the confrontation. The unrest later escalated into wider lawlessness.
The police confirmed that the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has launched investigations into the incident, with officers pledging full cooperation.
“Following the incident, a breakdown of law and order has been witnessed in the area, with reports of two vehicles being set alight today. We assure the public that a full documentation and accountability process for this incident is currently underway,” the statement said, adding that IPOA officers had been at the scene “since early morning conducting investigations,” NPS said.
Acknowledging the death, police urged residents to allow investigations to proceed and to refrain from further violence.
“The public is asked to allow the processes of transparency and accountability to take place and to desist from further acts of lawlessness to enable de-escalation.”
“Any person with information regarding this incident is asked to report it to their nearest police station, to any law enforcement officer, or to share it via our toll-free numbers: 999, 911, or 112. ”
Information can also be provided anonymously through the #FichuaKwaDCI hotline on 0800 722 203 or via WhatsApp on 0709 570 000.
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