Security was beefed up in various parts of Nairobi County from early Monday as police upscaled their efforts to thwart the anti-government protests organized by Azimio la Umoja.
There was heavy security presence on most of the streets in the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) as well as in the various densely populated estates across the city county.
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But in the CBD, many businesspeople opted to close their shops in anticipation of the demos fronted by Azimio leader Raila Odinga with many parking spaces remaining unoccupied.
However, confrontations between police and protesters were reported in Kibra, Mathare, Kangemi and Kisumu, where Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o led the anti-government demonstrations led by Azimio.
In Kangemi, protesters used stones to block Waiyaki Way disrupting transport on the busy highway with police intervening as the protesters engaged them in cat-and-mouse games.
A group of protesters also lit bonfires along Ngong Road as they made attempts to join the demonstrations demanding a reduction in the high cost of living, revies of the IEBC Selection Panel and opening of the IEBC servers in relation to the August 9, 2022 presidential election.
In an unfortunate incident, journalists from Citizen Tv and international media houses covering the demos in Kibra reported that they had been attacked and robbed by a gang of youth wielding knives.
This comes a day after IG Japhet Koome urged all Kenyans to report to work as usual on Monday declaring the Azimio demos illegal even as Raila and his opposition brigade vowed to go ahead with the demos daring Koome to arrest him and other leaders in his camp.
Tension remains high across the country despite security assurances by police with many opting to stay at home or work from home to avoid chaotic scenes witnessed last Monday during the demos spearheaded by Raila Odinga.
