Attempts by anti-government protesters to barricade the Nairobi-Namanga road were today thwarted by security apparatus who kept vigil at Kitengela town amid the closure of all business due to tension occasioned by previous protests which turned chaotic.
Regular police, GSU and prison officers lobbed teargas canisters to disperse protesters who kept regrouping and pelting them with stones.
Tens of protesters were arrested in unclear circumstances.
Vigilante groups armed with crude weapons said to have been hired by the Kitengela business community to protect businesses against looting were also spotted patrolling the town.
The business community who have held several meetings with security agencies led by the County commissioner James Taari had dared to take the law into their hands to protect their business.
“We were worried over the massive losses and destruction of property that has adversely affected our business. We sort audience with security officers who assured us of safety against looters,” Titus Ndei, secretary of the business community association said.
Ndei defended the presence of a Vigilante group guarding business premises saying the youths’ job was to inform police of suspicious characters trying to loot.
“Our vigilante group was tasked with reporting suspicious characters eying to break into business premises and report to police officers. We are law-abiding citizens and we cannot encourage insecurity. We as traders are not opposed to peaceful protests, we are opposed to looting and destruction of property,” Ndei added.
Speeding Subaru vehicles without number plates patrolling the town and a helicopter hovering within the populous town environs as from noon seemed to have changed the script of adamant protesters who gradually dispersed over security concerns.
“Let’s retreat and scamper for safety the killer squad is here. The occupants of the Subarus are here to eliminate us,” protesters shouted.
Very few vehicles were plying the Nairobi-Namanga road with lorries which ordinarily ferry perishable farm produce from neighbouring Tanzania through the Namanga one-stop border seemingly keeping off due to security uncertainty.
Last week the road remained impassable for over 10 hours with traders recording losses of perishable goods.
In the past, Kitengela and Ong’ata Rongai have witnessed massive destruction of property, looting and loss of lives in chaotic anti-government protests.
Some of the looted businesses are yet to resume operations with tens of employees’ jobs now hanging in the balance.
Kajiado leaders led by Governor Joseph Ole Lenku are on record condemning the chaotic protests they termed as imported violence.
“We have witnessed a wave of violence and insecurity in Kitengela and Ong’ata Rongai during the anti-government protests.
“We have since established that the anarchy is largely fuelled by non-locals whose aim is just destruction. We want to condemn the bloody incidences. I would urge fellow Kenyans to maintain peace and harmony and avert losses and deaths,” Lenku appealed.
Both private and public day primary and secondary schools within Kitengela and its environs remained closed.
Last week two protesters were shot dead in Kitengela with scores nursing bullet wounds injuries.