A heavy contingent of police has been deployed in parts of Nairobi ahead of the anticipated resumption of Azimio la Umoja anti-government protests.
A spot check by Citizen Digital on Tuesday morning revealed that anti-riot police were stationed in Nairobi’s main entry and exit points including the Uhuru Highway – Haile Selassie Avenue intersection, parts of Ngara, and near G.P.O.
A similar fashion was observed along Ngong Road as police were seen at Prestige Mall areas and the Junction Mall.
Roadblocks were also erected on all roads leading to the State House, with police officers stationed in roads such as Dennis Pritt.
In parts of Kisumu, however, protesters have already started barricading roads with stones and lighting bonfires.
Despite a refusal by President William Ruto and the police to allow Azimio to take the streets, the coalition leader Raila Odinga remained determined that the protests will still take place.
Odinga maintained that the opposition is exercising their constitutional right to assemble, demonstrate, picket, and present petitions to public authorities peaceably and unarmed.
He also announced that they shall present petitions to four government offices on Tuesday in an effort to pressure President William Ruto’s administration to heed their demands.
Nairobi Regional Police Commander Adamson Bungei in a statement on Sunday argued that Azimio has not demonstrated goodwill in previous demonstrations, rendering them unfit to hold another protest.
On his part, President Ruto vowed to use all powers at his disposal to ensure that the planned protests do not deteriorate into chaos and violence.
