Dozens of police were deployed 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.
There were few matatus in operation on most roads.
The matatus are protesting the high cost of fuel.
Some however reported to business.
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 there will be chaos and disrupt their businesses.
Police on major highways said many long-distance drivers and conductors had kept off the roads.
This is despite the fact that the government had suspended a retesting exercise on the crew and public service vehicles.
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.
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.
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.
The organizers 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 vowed not to allow any violent protests that pose a threat to the lives of Kenyans.
Ruto said 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.
