A man has blacked out after he was teargassed by police
anti-riot cannon during Saba Saba protests in Kitengela, Kajiado county.
He was among the tens of youth and GenZs who engaged police in running battles during the protests within the Kitengela Township on Monday.
The victim fell, lying unconscious after the canon sprayed him with the chemicals as they engaged police in running battles along the Old Namanga Road.
Water cannons are frequently used by police forces around the world in the context of public assemblies and may be used to disperse a crowd in cases of widespread violence against persons that can not be contained otherwise.
They are high-pressure pumping systems designed to shoot jets of water at people.
Pressure can vary from low (to only soak a person - "rain shower" mode) to high pressure aimed at pushing people through the power of a jet.
They can also be used to fire small volumes ("slugs" or "bullets" of water.
Sometimes, the police use them with additives such as marker dye for later identification of people or chemical irritants.
The man was whisked to safety by fellow protestors who later poured water on him.
He gained consciousness after about 30 minutes and walked away.
The protestors have been engaging police in running battles since mid-morning.
Two police water cannons have been deployed to disperse the rioters in Kitengela.
Businesses and transport have been paralysed with shops closed and roads deserted.
GSU personnel have also been deployed to reinforce their colleagues.
The protestors have barricaded roads, lit bonfires, and engaged police in hide-and-seek games.
The situation has been the same in Machakos, Wote and Emali towns in Makueni County.
Youth went to the streets at about midday, lit bonfires, barricaded roads, and engaged police in running battles.
