A pinkish substance released by the police to disperse demonstrators in the streets of Nairobi has raised significant concerns, with many speculating that it could be a harmful chemical banned from warfare. Videos circulating online show a peculiar pink cloud outside a Java House outlet, resembling tear gas smoke.
This is the first time the substance has been used on protesters, prompting questions about its composition and potential danger. Kenyans on social media platform X are divided on its nature, with some calling it a ‘poisonous gas’ and others suggesting it might be Agent Orange, a notorious herbicide used by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War.
The speculation about Agent Orange gained traction after Auma Obama, half-sister to former U.S. President Barack Obama, condemned its use and shared information about the deadly substance. Reacting to a tweet by Dictator Watch, Obama wrote, “Evil Evil Evil!” Dictator Watch had claimed, “William Ruto has now gone for poison gas. The orange substance is highly toxic. This is a crime against Humanity.”
Despite the rumors and potential misinformation, the exact nature and components of the substance remain unidentified.
What is Agent Orange?
According to the Aspen Institute, Agent Orange is a herbicide mixture used by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War, primarily from 1961 to 1971, to defoliate trees and shrubs and kill food crops used by opposition forces. A dangerous chemical contaminant called dioxin was present in much of Agent Orange, which has long-term harmful effects.
Production of Agent Orange ended in the 1970s, but the dioxin contaminant continues to cause health issues, including cancers, diabetes, birth defects, and other disabilities. The Red Cross estimates that three million Vietnamese have been affected by dioxin, including at least 150,000 children born with serious birth defects. Millions of Americans and Vietnamese continue to suffer from the effects of Agent Orange exposure.
While it is not confirmed whether the Kenyan police used Agent Orange, one Kenyan shared her experience after the substance was released: “They shot someone in the eye today and when people tried to help him they tear-gassed the entire street with dioxin. My friends and I could not breathe. One of us is asthmatic and still feeling the effects of the gas. #RutoMustGo by any means necessary!”
The situation remains tense as the public awaits an official identification and assessment of the substance used by the police.
4o
