- On Tuesday, April 21, the NPS deployed heavily armed officers in Nairobi’s CBD due to fears of protests against high fuel prices
- Demonstrators gathered in various streets despite the police dispersing the crowd near the National Memorial Park of Kenya
- Nairobi police commander Issa Mohamud had declared the planned protest illegal due to lack of prior notice
Nairobi – Heavily armed police officers have been deployed in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) due to fear of traders protesting against the recent increase in fuel prices.
Source: Facebook
By the morning of Tuesday, April 21, a small number of protesters had turned out to participate in the demonstration called by the opposition leader. Rigathi Gachagua.
Did the police arrest the oil price protesters?
The police have dispersed the crowd that was gathering near the Kenya National Memorial Park along Tom Mboya Road as the groups headed to join the protest planned #rejectfuelprices in Nairobi’s CBD.
In another incident, TUKO.co.ke has seen a video of some protesters being arrested by anti-terrorism police officers outside the National Remembrance Park and put into police vehicles.
A heavy police presence was seen throughout the CBD, with armed officers patrolling.
Water cannons were deployed in some streets, a sign that the security forces were ready to control any violence that might arise.
Public dissatisfaction with rising commodity costs, particularly fuel prices, has fueled protests organized nationally by a coalition of Gen Z activists and groups associated with the opposition.
The protests are aimed at lowering fuel prices and addressing the high cost of living in general.
Nairobi police commander Issa Mohamud said officers were cooperating with the group as part of efforts to maintain order.
He said the city was quiet for most of the morning, with 11 people arrested for taking part in illegal protests.
“In general, I can say that the city is calm. We have arrested a few who were trying to disturb the peace here near the Archives. Let the economy continue, let the peace continue, there is nothing to fear. So far we have arrested 11, and we will take them to court tomorrow to be charged. 98 percent of businesses continue… love your country,” Mohamud said.
Did the police ban fuel price protests?
The Nairobi police commander had earlier opposed the protest, saying that the National Police Service (NPS) had not received the 14-day notice required for the planned protest.
He explained that although the NPS does not oppose the right to protest, advance notice is mandatory for all protests and public gatherings.
“We have information about the protest planned next week related to the oil price, but no information has been released. This makes the protest illegal, and we will take appropriate measures,” Mohamud said.
Source: Facebook
How the UDA responded to the Gachagua protest plans
In other news, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) responded to a strong statement made by the opposition regarding the recent increase in fuel prices.
The Union opposition, led by the former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, accused the government of Ruto for being the source of the ongoing oil crisis in the country.
But speaking to reporters on Thursday, April 16, the Secretary General of UDA Hassan Omar defended the increase in fuel prices, saying the government had no choice but to do so.
The UDA official dismissed calls for public protests on the issue, saying the protests are baseless because oil prices are heavily influenced by international market forces.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
