- Police on major highways said some long-distance drivers and conductors had kept off their services.
- This is despite the fact that the government had suspended a retesting exercise on the crew and public service vehicles.
Image: HANDOUT
There was a heavy presence of police on major roads in Nairobi on Wednesday morning as a protest called over the high cost of living kicked off.
Police declared the demonstration illegal arguing there was no official notification on the same as required in law.
Anti-riot police mounted roadblocks on roads around the State House ahead of the planned street protests in the city.
Other officers were seen patrolling city streets and informing any group to disperse.
Nairobi police boss Adamson Bungei said they will not allow any meeting to take place and told those planning to do they will be dispersed.
“They have been informed their plans to demonstrate are not permitted here and elsewhere. We have teams on the ground,” he said.
He added they had mobilized enough personnel to ensure security in the city.
Some businesses remained closed in the morning hours most likely because of fears of chaos.
Some schools asked pupils and students to stay away for the day fearing chaos.
Police on major highways said some long-distance drivers and conductors had kept off their services.
This is despite the fact that the government had suspended a retesting exercise on the crew and public service vehicles.
Other police teams were sent with breakdowns to patrol the roads to clamp and tow away any vehicle that may try to block the roads.
The communication on the suspension of the exercise came late in the evening when most of the drivers had planned for the boycott of service hence the move to stay off the roads, police on the ground said.
“By the time the communication came out, most of the drivers and owners had decided to keep off the roads and so it was expected. We blame those who communicated late,” said one official.
Azimio La Umoja Coalition and groups of civil societies have called for protests to denounce the high cost of living and the new Finance Act 2023.
Dozens of police were deployed to various places to inspect cars using the roads around State House, which scared some road users as they were inconvenienced for a while.
Police argued State House being a vital installation, there was a need for periodic security checks around there.
Dozens of armed police officers laid roadblocks on roads leading to State House in Nairobi.
Police were deployed with spikes at various points on major roads including State House Road, State House Avenue, Processional Way and Dennis Pritt where they briefly stopped and questioned motorists.
The officers said they were then under instructions not to allow the motorcyclists as they could be used to ferry crowds to State House.
A survey showed a heavy presence of anti-riot police on major roads and informal settlements.
This came after Azimio La Umoja leaders said their protests against the cost of living, electoral malpractices among others will go on as planned.
Dozens of new police officers were brought to Nairobi to back up those already in the city.
Others were sent to other places where officials said there were plans for more such meetings.
The organisers of the protests say they plan to continue with their signature collection session to register their displeasure with the government.
Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome said no group had presented any official notification to the police on the planned demos, hence the gatherings will be considered illegal.
He vowed to use “all lawful means” to disperse any gatherings that will take place on Wednesday.
“In the interest of national security, the National Police Service wishes to inform the public that in the absence of notifications by planners of any demonstrations as a legal prerequisite to enable police to provide adequate security to demonstrators and the public, Police have no other option but to take necessary measures to disperse all illegal demonstrations,” said Koome.
“In this regard, no such demonstrations/gatherings/protests will be allowed tomorrow since no such notification has been presented to any police station. All lawful means will be used to disperse such demonstrations.”
President William Ruto also fired a warning shot at the opposition, vowing not to allow any violent protests that pose a threat to the lives of Kenyans.
Speaking in Ruai on Tuesday, Ruto pointed out that six deaths were reported from Saba Saba protests last week, adding that he will not condone the death of any Kenyan over an individual's political satisfaction.