A commuter bus was set ablaze by unknown goons along Ngong Road in Nairobi on Tuesday morning as Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party anti-government protests resumed.
Videos that went viral on various social media platforms captured close to 10 youth attacking the bus that was curiously packed beside the road with no police officers in sight.
The youth emanating from the Woodley Posta side pounced on the PSV and are seen pelting it as some passengers exited through the window before it is seen going up in flames.
The video was widely circulated by bigwigs allied to the ruling Kenya Kwanza alliance as they accused the opposition Azimio for being behind the incident and chaos during the demos.
However, Azimio leaders, supporters and a number of social media users have queried the torching incident alleging it was orchestrated by state actors with police not intervening and no efforts being made to extinguish the fire.
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I am very impressed by the ample preparations by the different chapters of Nairobi traders to protect their businesses from the terrorists tomorrow. Kesho ndio ile siku
— CS Moses Kuria (@HonMoses_Kuria) May 1, 2023
In the CBD, Azimio Senators led by Nairobi’s Edwin Sifuna were forced to scamper for safety after police lobbed teargas at them as they delivered a petition to the Office of the President along Harambee Avenue.
My 50 colleagues and I have been teargassed outside the Office of the President as we marched peacefully to deliver the People’s Petition. Gachagua told us we know where to find them. We do. We went there and instead met Police. Cowards! pic.twitter.com/tEgnCLMMIX
— Edwin Sifuna (@edwinsifuna) May 2, 2023
This comes as security was upscaled in most parts of Nairobi where protesters supporting Azimio la Umoja led by Raila Odinga were expected to go through in the resumed demos.
Anti-riot police officers were deployed to all roads leading into the Nairobi CBD including Ngong Road, Uhuru Highway, Haile Selassie Avenue, Kenyatta Avenue and Muranga Road.
Security deployment was also scaled up around State House with barricades erected on all roads leading to there including Dennis Pritt Road, State House Road and Processional Way.
Elsewhere in Kisumu, demonstrators backing mass action calls by Azimio’s Raila barricaded the main highways, including the Kisumu-Kakamega Road, with stones and lit bonfires.
Raila, who is leading the resumed anti-government protests, is yet to appear publicly and had accused the President William Ruto side of not being sincere in convened bipartisan talks.
