How Police Quelled Venezuela Protest Outside US Embassy in Nairobi

Kenyan police, with the help of the Kenya Defense Forces, had to collaborate to stop a march by activists outside the US Embassy in Nairobi on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, leading to tense scenes and an abrupt end to the protest.

Organisers from the Pan-African Socialist Alliance (PSA) claim to have notified police in advance and made clear they posed no threat to the embassy or its staff.

According to videos circulating online, the PSA had a standoff with the government, where they insisted they had all the legal requirements for staging a public demonstration, including written notification to relevant authorities and a detailed outline of their route.

They reveal that they had even produced a poster and video ahead of the action and repeatedly stated their intentions, yet were blocked from approaching the diplomatic mission.

Protesters gathered to hand in a letter condemning the alleged illegal kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

The demonstration was organised in response to recent events where Maduro was reportedly detained by US-backed forces on January 3, 2026, an action the Pan-African Socialist Alliance characterised as a flagrant violation of sovereignty.

The deployment involved multiple layers of security personnel stationed at strategic points along the route to Gigiri, effectively creating a cordon that made it impossible for demonstrators to advance toward the compound.

Reinforcements arrived outside the diplomatic compound, heavily armed, and the atmosphere quickly turned confrontational.

As the standoff continued, additional security units were called in, some carrying firearms and riot control equipment, including shields, batons, and what appeared to be teargas canisters for potential deployment.

Many protesters were left frustrated as officers repeatedly insisted, they could not proceed.

Activists reported that their attempts to engage in dialogue with police commanders were largely unsuccessful, with officers citing security protocols and orders from above as reasons for the comprehensive blockade.

Kenyan soldiers also asked journalists and demonstrators for their IDs before the march, taking photos of documents and personal details.

Private security guards from G4S were also seen taking photos of protesters and members of the press during the event.

Despite the organisers' insistence that they were peaceful andintended only to deliver a letter, the state's response saw the protest end with violence.

Eyewitnesses reported that after hours of a standoff, police moved to forcibly disperse the crowd using physical force, with several protesters shoved, struck with batons, or wrestled to the ground.

Video footage from the scene also shows police blocking roads, pushing back crowds and detaining some participants.

The recordings captured officers aggressively manhandling protesters, including shoving elderly participants and grabbing young activists by their clothing, with at least three individuals visibly detained and led away in vehicles.

There were signs that there would be trouble near the embassy on Wednesday, after U.S Citizens were warned of possible protests a day earlier.