The Kenyan police are trying something new to handle the Nane Nane protests in Nairobi. Instead of letting crowds gather before stepping in, today they disrupted even the smallest groups before they could grow.
In previous protests, the police allowed people to gather and then moved in to disperse them. Today, they took a different approach by stopping even small groups of protesters from forming right from the start.
This new tactic also affected traffic, with matatus being rerouted to avoid the Central Business District (CBD), making it harder for people to reach the city center.
Roadblocks were set up on major roads leading into the CBD. For example, matatus coming from Mombasa Road and Lang’ata Road via Uhuru Highway were diverted at the Bunyala Roundabout, forcing them to use Landhies Road to get into the city.
By afternoon, the streets of Nairobi were almost empty. Police were not allowing vehicles to stop in the CBD and were telling shop owners to close up. Matatus and boda boda operators were also ordered to leave the area.
This strict approach shows how determined the government is to keep the protests under control and maintain order in Nairobi during the Nane Nane demonstrations.
By Vivian K.