Youth Protest Outside Buruburu Church Over Viral Bullying Video

Nairobi, Kenya | October 4, 2026

Hundreds of young people gathered outside Redeemed Gospel Church in Buruburu, Nairobi, on Sunday demanding justice for a young woman identified as Jahenda following the circulation of a viral video allegedly showing her being bullied and physically assaulted.

The protesters gathered as the church held its Sunday services, chanting Jahenda's name and calling for accountability over the incident, which has triggered widespread outrage on social media. Police were deployed to the area as the crowd grew.

The demonstration followed claims that one of the women appearing in the viral footage is affiliated with the Buruburu congregation. Redeemed Gospel Church Buruburu condemned bullying, humiliation, intimidation, harassment and violence, while stressing that church affiliation cannot be used to excuse or shield anyone from accountability.

The video circulating online appears to show Jahenda surrounded by several young women inside a washroom, with some allegedly threatening and humiliating her while others recorded the incident. The footage has drawn widespread condemnation, with calls for investigations and action against those found responsible.

The incident has also been linked to Riara University after the institution confirmed that some of the individuals featured in the footage were reportedly its students. The university condemned bullying, violence, intimidation and harassment and said it had launched an internal review while committing to cooperate with relevant authorities.

The controversy intensified after claims circulated on social media linking one of the women allegedly involved to a pastor at the Buruburu church. Reverend Felix Kavoi, whose name was associated with those claims, denied that he has a daughter studying at Riara University and said his daughters are adults and working.

Kavoi also questioned why the church had become the focus of the protest, noting that the alleged incident did not take place on church premises. The church has maintained that its affiliation with one of the women in the footage does not prevent the matter from being investigated or anyone from being held accountable.

The protest later became tense, with reports of clashes between demonstrators and police. The Standard reported that police used tear gas and fired into the air to disperse protesters and allow people inside the church to leave.

Protesters said they were seeking justice for Jahenda and called for those allegedly involved in the incident to face appropriate action. The demonstration reflected the growing #JusticeForJahenda campaign, which has continued to generate strong reactions online.

The controversy has also sparked a wider discussion about bullying, violence among young adults and the responsibility of institutions to respond when their students or members are accused of misconduct.

Two women featured in the footage have reportedly apologised, although public calls for accountability have continued, with many Kenyans urging authorities and relevant institutions to establish the circumstances of the incident rather than relying solely on public apologies.

Riara University has not announced disciplinary action against the individuals reportedly linked to the institution, while no arrests or formal charges had been confirmed at the time of reporting.

As investigations continue, attention remains focused on establishing what happened before, during and after the alleged incident and determining what legal or institutional action, if any, should follow.