Calm as police, NYS personnel deployed amid of Azimio demos

By Peter Ochieng

It is the first day of Azimio's three-day anti-government protests expected to run until Friday.

However, compared to Wednesday last week when deaths, violence, destruction of property and ugly confrontation between police and rioters carried the day, calm is being experienced in most parts of the Country.

In Nairobi, National Youth Service (NYS) personnel are backing up police efforts to quell chaos, in case they break out during the demos in the course of the day.

Police are manning all major roads in the Capital, especially those leading to State House.

In Kibra, protestors burned tyres near Olympic Primary School. No heavy police presence in the area.

Most shops and businesses remain closed in Nairobi.

In Homabay County, demonstrators blocked the Homabay - Rongo road, as police arrested some of them for staging 'illegal demos.'

Far off in Mombasa County, some day school learners reported to school, despite the government's move to close schools in Mombasa, Nairobi and Kisumu counties, over security concern.

According to a joint statement signed by Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki and his education counterpart Ezekiel Machogu, credible intelligence reports revealed plans by rogue elements to attack specific schools during the demos.

Still in Mombasa, at an area known as Expressway, police lobbed teargas to disperse protesters who had blocked a major road.

Roads were clear in several parts of Kisumu, including Kibuye and Kondele, before protesters lit bonfires in some sections.

Still, some protestors in Kisumu afforded the luxury of turning roads into football pitch, due to lack of traffic.

In Nanyuki, Laikipia County, some residents said business is going on as usual.

They called on Azimio supporters to carry out peaceful protests.

Calm is being exhibited in other areas such as Machakos, Makueni, Nakuru and Kisii, which witnessed violent protests last week.