Anti-riot police patrol cities as protests take shape

Some of the youths who had converged at the Tom Mboya statute in Nairobi. [Collins Kweyu, Standard]

Heavy police presence has been witnessed across major cities including Nairobi, Kisumu, Kisii, and Mombasa ahead of Tuesday's planned anti-government protests.

A spot check by The Standard has established that anti-riot police have been deployed to man the streets, including guarding crucial government buildings.

In Nairobi, most roads were deserted with little to no traffic as businesses closed due to fear of clashes between security officers and demonstrators.

There was minimal activity in Nairobi CBD as most motorists kept away.

Some of the protesting youths along Moi Avenue, Nairobi [Collins Kweyu, Standard]

Roads leading to key government buildings including State House and the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) also remained closely guarded.

Elsewhere, in Kisii, police managed to disperse a handful of youths who had lit bonfires on various roads in the town.

Relative calmness was reported in Eldoret and Kakamega unlike last week during the occupy Parliament demonstrations.