- More than 300 people have been arrested in the chaos drawing condemnation from civil societies and international community.
- Officials at the Independent Policing Oversight Authority say they are concerned s to why police are not reporting deaths to them as required by law.
Image: FILE
There was a heavy presence of police on major roads in and out of Nairobi on Friday morning as a protest called over the high cost of living entered the final day.
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.
More roadblocks were mounted on Mombasa Road in Athi River, Machakos town and junction, Kangundo Road, Waiyaki Way and other feeder roads with police inspecting motorists.
Bodaboda riders were not allowed to go through some roads.
There was a heavy presence of police on the streets in Kisumu, Homa Bay, Nakuru, Mombasa, Kisii, Meru and Thika Town, residents said.
This came following a declaration by Azimio La Umoja that there would be a final protest on Friday over the high cost of living and proposed Finance Act.
In the city of Nairobi, which the organisers said would pass through as part of the protests, more police were deployed to keep vigil and disperse any small group.
Nairobi police boss Adamson Bungei said they will not allow any meeting to take place and told those planning to do so they will be dispersed.
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.
Most schools asked pupils and students to stay away for the day fearing chaos.
This is despite the fact that the government ordered the reopening of the institutions.
At least nine people have been killed by police in the past two days in the protests. The latest victim was shot by police in Kawangware 56 on Thursday evening.
Police said to quell two groups in the area and later found a man in a pool of blood with a bullet injury in the head. They are investigating the incident.
Residents said the victim was shot by police. This increased to at least nine, the number of people shot and killed since Wednesday while at least 30 are nursing wounds in separate parts of the country.
More than 300 people have been arrested in the chaos drawing condemnation from civil societies and the international community.
Officials at the Independent Policing Oversight Authority say they are concerned as to why police are not reporting deaths to them as required by law.
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 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.