Uneasy calm in Western, Coast and Nyanza as protesters keep off streets

Several towns across the country experienced relative calm despite protests in some regions.

The planned Nane Nane protests in Nyanza, Western, Rift Valley, Mt Kenya and the Coast failed to take off.

There was heavy police presence in major towns across the regions even as traders shut businesses for fear of looting.

Transport was paralysed in several towns as public service vehicles were kept off major roads in anticipation of protests.

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At the Coast, there was a heavy police presence in Mombasa and Taita Taveta although youths kept off the streets.

The security teams patrolled Mombasa on trucks and foot in readiness to break up protests.

A contingent of police was deployed to Uhuru Gardens on Moi Avenue and patrolled all major streets within the CBD, with business going on uninterrupted.

"The town has remained calm today despite the fear that the Gen Z would disrupt business. We have, however, witnessed a heavy presence of security officers all over the town," said a resident Abdalla Omar.

Speaking from Mwembe Tayari, another resident, Raphael Odieny, said the CBD remained calm.

Political activist Oginga Randiki said youth kept off the streets.

However, he said there was no significant change in Cabinet as many faces were recycled.

"The bottom-up agenda has failed and the government should craft new policies that will effectively address the issues affecting the country including the Gen Z. The current economic policy is not working," he said.

A spot check by The Standard in Voi town revealed heavy police presence along the busy Nairobi-Mombasa highway and the Voi-Taita Taveta National Polytechnic road that recently witnessed running battles between protesters and police.

Voi Sub County Police Commander Dafarla Ibrahim said the town and its environs were calm.

“The organisers of the protests are on police radar and withdrew from the protests. The town is peaceful with police keeping vigil,” he said.

In the South Rift, Nakuru experienced relative calm amid heavy police presence.

Groups of youth were noticeable in different parts of the city but police dispersed them.

James Mbugua, a person living with disability, who has been a vocal protestor was however injured during arrest by police along Kenyatta Avenue.

“I was crossing the road when over 10 policemen surrounded me. They believed that I was there to mobilise protestors. I demanded to know what made them believe so but they didn’t respond,” said Mbugua.

In a video captured by a passerby, Mbugua is seen being bundled into a police vehicle as he let go of his crutches.

“My arm was stuck between the car door and the frame as they pushed me. I alerted one of them and he said even if it got broken, my family would take me to hospital. I suffered a serious injury and lost a lot of blood,” he said.

He was detained at the Nakuru DCI offices before members of the United Disability Network led by their chairperson Peter Maritim came to his rescue.

“It is very inhuman that the police mistreated a harmless Mr Mbugua with such violence. He was not a threat and wasn’t armed. Even if he was protesting, he would have been doing so within his rights,” said Maritim.

During the anti-Finance protests last month, Mbugua was clobbered by police officers and his mobile phone confiscated. He claimed that police are yet to return his phone.

A section of GenZ in Nakuru expressed disappointment at President Ruto's new Cabinet saying he reappointed Cabinet Secretaries that were dismissed.

Wycliffe Kuto, 19, called on youths to come out and join Nane Nane protests in Nairobi saying that President Ruto has short changed them by reappointing sacked CSs.

He accused opposition leader Raila Odinga of taking advantage of the Gen Z protests to strike a deal with the government instead of performing oversight role.

In Western, business remained closed in Kakamega, Bungoma, and Busia towns.

Residents stayed away for fear of protests.

In Kakamega police erected blocks on major roads leading to Kisumu, Bungoma, and Busia counties.

There was heavy police presence in Maraba, Lurambi, Joyland, and Amalemba estates that were the epicentre of recent protests.

A spot check by the Standard in Kakamega town established that it was business as usual although some shops remained closed.

Public Service Vehicles were operating although they avoided some routes for fear of protests.

At 9 am, police started patrolling the town, especially around approved schools, Muliro gardens, and Lurambi protestors usually gather.

In Nyanza, however,  there were protests in some areas but quickly quelled by police.

In Migori county, protestors engaged police in running battles early in the morning before boda boda riders chased them away.

The youthful protestors had already barricaded the Migori-Rongo highway with stones before they were repulsed by boda boda operators.

"They tried breaking into shops and wanted to burn wooden shades on the road. We could not just sit and watch them," said Mark Okumu, a boda-boda rider in Migori town.

In Kisumu and Homa Bay, however, relative calm was witnessed after demonstrations failed to take off.

Homa Bay Giant Traders Association Chairman Jack Nyambega said the peace enabled them to operate their businesses without fear of looting. 

"We are very happy that we have a conducive environment for operating our businesses," said Nyambega.

[Report by Patrick Beja, Renson Mnyamwezi, Clinton Ambujo, Anne Atieno, James Omoro, Hilda Otieno,Kennedy Gachuhi and Nikko Tanui]