Police Thwart, Arrest Mombasa Protesters, Nairobi Demos Gain Momentum
Several protesters were arrested in Mombasa on Monday morning, December 30, while protesting anti-abduction.
With protests erupting in numerous parts of the country following an internet campaign against the administration, anti-riot police were on alert to prevent any arrests of demonstrators.
In Mombasa, police appeared to have zero tolerance for any type of mass action and were fast to disperse protestors as soon as they assembled in the city centre.
Videos posted online showed anti-riot officers briefly engaging with tens of locals yelling anti-government slogans.
However, things took an unexpected turn as authorities bundled two of the more outspoken protestors into their vans.
The reason for the arrest has not been determined, but one officer can be heard claiming the protestors were arrested for supposed ‘obstruction’.
A different video from Mombasa showed another police officer warning protestors against their actions, encouraging them to ‘move to Nairobi’ if they wanted to picket.
'Go demonstrate in Nairobi': Mombasa police disperse youths and activists who had gathered for anti-abduction protests, term the planned demos illegal pic.twitter.com/ZSEoSV4xLG
— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) December 30, 2024
Nairobi Protests
Tens of Kenyans congregated in various locations of Nairobi’s central business district, armed with placards containing statements critical of the Kenya Kwanza government.
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Similar to Mombasa, anti-riot officers were on standby in case of a riot, and water cannons were spotted outside the Kenyatta International Convention Centre.
Police stopped many key highways leading into Nairobi’s central business district and were also observed frisking Public Service cars to ascertain whether the vehicles were transporting protestors into the city.
Matatus were prevented from entering the CBD around lunchtime on Monday, with cops closing Kenyatta Avenue to all public service vehicles.
One notable figure among the youth in Nairobi is Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, who has emerged as a harsh opponent of the administration in recent weeks.
Police Thwart, Arrest Mombasa Protesters, Nairobi Demos Gain Momentum
