Police lobbed teargas in Kibra and along Ngong Road as they made efforts to block anti-government protesters from proceeding to the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD).
A vehicle belonging to one of the local media houses had its windscreen smashed as it was caught up in the confrontation between police and protesters at Katwekera area of Kibra.
A number of protesters made their way to the Nairobi CBD heeding to Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga’s call for mass action on Monday to apply pressure on the government.
Tens of demonstrators gathered near KICC and City Hall as a number of them chanted pro-Raila slogans while carrying sufurias as they demanded a reduction of the cost of living.
Read More
Police also lobbed teargas outside KICC to disperse the protesters whose numbers were beginning to swell, coming a day after the State and police declared the demos illegal.
This comes as many streets in Nairobi remained clear of traffic and most shops remained closed as many Nairobians stayed away from the CBD over the protests amid heightened security and a heavy police presence on the streets.
Police managed to arrest a number of them and whisked them away from the scene as the state made frantic efforts to quell the riots being spearheaded by Raila and Azimio la Umoja.
Suna East MP Junet Mohamed, who is also the National Assembly Minority Leader, was barred by police from accessing KICC on Monday morning as he also led a section of the protests in the Nairobi CBD.
Raila and other bigwigs including Martha Karua and Kalonzo Musyoka are yet to be seen as Azimio la Umoja pressures the government to lower the cost of living among other issues.
Speaking on Sunday, Raila said his Monday protests against the President William Ruto Government would be peaceful and will culminate in a grand march to occupy State House.
Similar protests are expected to be held in other parts of the country as well as Raila insists the Kenya Kwanza government led by President Ruto is illegitimate and should be removed from power amid calls by a section of politicians and clergy for dialogue between the Raila and Ruto sides.