LIVE: Protesters Battle Police Along Outering Road, Steal Shields, Armour Parts

Kisumu Governor, Anyang' Nyong'o recalled his earlier announcement that the demonstrations in Kisumu were suspended.

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
Mar 30, 2023 - 07:10 Updated: Sep 2, 2023 - 22:02
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LIVE: Protesters Battle Police Along Outering Road, Steal Shields, Armour Parts
Raila Odinga addressing Imara Daima residents on March 30, 2023. /TWITTER.FERDINAND OMONDI

The third day of the Azimio la Umoja mass demonstrations commenced on Thursday, March 30 with the opposition pressuring the President William Ruto-led government to lower the cost of living.

Interior CS Kithure Kindiki had on Wednesday, March 29 ordered for a heavy security detail to be deployed at strategic points along the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) as well as areas where demonstrations occurred the previous week.

In addition, Nairobi Governor, Johnson Sakaja banned demonstrations within the CBD, stating that Nairobians had suffered from the past two demonstrations.

Meanwhile, Kisumu Governor, Anyang' Nyong'o recalled his earlier announcement that the demonstrations in Kisumu were suspended.

Keep refreshing this page as Viral Tea provides you with the latest updates, reactions and analysis during the third successive mass action.

4.48 pm: An NTV cameraman covering riots in Kisumu has been critically injured while fleeing from a group of rioters throwing stones while he was covering demonstrations in the Nyamasaria area, Kisumu. 

He was injured after he missed his step on a footbridge trying to evade the stones thrown by rioters before rolling down the steps. He was rescued by bodaboda operators who rushed him to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) where he is being attended to.

4.40 pm: Protesters engage police in teargas battles after breaking through barricade along Outering Road. They took the police's shields and parts of their armour forcing the officers to retreat.

4.38 pm: Raila's motorcade on Southern Bypass. The Azimio coalition has until 6 pm to end the demonstrations for the day, according to the Constitution.

4.15 pm: Rowdy youth storm and loot Jamia Supermarket located in Kisumu County. Hussein Hassan, the proprietor of the supermarket blamed the police for not acting swiftly despite making several calls to the OCS.

Among the products stolen were rice, cooking oil, sugar, milk, soft drinks and gas.

3.43 pm: Azimio's attempts to access Outering Road are blocked by police.

"Police have attacked our convoy as we exited Kware in Embakasi South. God bless the Residents pouring water down from their highrise flats to douse us from the intense teargas," Nairobi Senator, Edwin Sifuna stated. 

3.27 pm: Anti-riot police shoot in the air, and lob teargas canisters to disperse the growing Azimio supporters in the Pipeline/Kware area of Embakasi South as the procession nears Outering Road.

3.22 pm: Raila Odinga calls for constitutional changes and for the IEBC server to be open while addressing Mukuru kwa Njenga residents

"As Azimio we are not foolish. but to the patriotic Kenyans, we want the country to deliver. We want Kenyans to be respected. We have said we want Constitutional changes. We want the server to be open," he stated.

2.22 pm: During the protests, Raila Odinga sent his condolences to Pwani University after 14 people lost their lives during an accident along the Nairobi-Naivasha Highway. Read more here

"I extend my sincere condolences to the Pwani University community and all those who lost colleagues, friends, and loved ones in the regrettable accident that involved a Pwani University bus and matatu on the Naivasha-Nakuru highway," he wrote on his Twitter account.

2.17 pm: Raila lauded his supporters for showing solidarity in his call for mass action.

He stated: "We thank you for showing up. Azimio is solid. I would like to inform those politicians who were voted in Azimio to remain in the coalition. If not, let them go back to the people and be voted afresh."

1.38 pm: Police block the road at Mombasa Road, forcing Raila's convoy to join Imara Daima.

1:34 pm: Anti-government protestors set ablaze Siaya County UDA office. 

1.21 pm:  Raila and his convoy leave Capitol Hill Centre, they are expected to go to Embakasi. It passes Radisson Blu, heading towards Uhuru Highway

12.55 pm: Mothers lead youth and children in seeking to engage police officers in a conversation as they beg for a ceasefire in Mathare. Minutes later protests erupt as rowdy youth throw stones at the officers who lob teargas in retaliation. 

12.45 pm: Gatundu South sub-county police commander Jonathan Koech, confirmed that at least thirty police officers were deployed to former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Ichaweri village home in Gatundu South. 

11:50 am: Police officers were deployed to guard Azimio principal Martha Karua’s rural home in Kimunye, Kirinyaga County. 

11.32 am: Protesters march in the streets of Kisumu city. 

11.17 am: Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale encounters roadblocks in Kisumu as he was leaving the Kisumu International Airport. 

11.09 am: The managers of Al Huda School in South B have asked parents to pick up their children from school immediately.

"Good morning. We have received information this morning that demonstrations are likely to occur within and around the school and in South B. 

"For the safety of our learners, we strongly advise all parents to pick their children with immediate effect," reads a text from the school.

11.08 am: Kenya Association of International Schools has advised institutions based in hotspots to close today and deploy virtual learning. 

11.05 am: Police push back demonstrators in Mathare, Nairobi, blocking them from accessing the main Juja Road in Nairobi.

11.03 am: Activist Boniface Mwangi calls for protests to be conducted peacefully, without the destruction of public property.

"For those protesting today, do not destroy or loot public or private property, that is not protesting, that's criminality. Closing roads, chanting, and burning tyres which you bought with your own money is part of peaceful protests," he wrote.

11.00 am: Anti-government protesters burn tyres on the road in Kibra, Nairobi.

10.50 am: Kisumu Deputy Governor Mathew Owili and Seme MP James Nyikal join protesters in Kisumu. 

10.10 am: Over 200 officers deployed at Jacaranda grounds in Embakasi, Nairobi, an area perceived to be a meetup point for the Azimio brigade.

10.08 am: Police officers lob teargas to disperse protesters in Mathare.

10.02 am: President William Ruto jets back to the country from his working trip to Europe. He was received by his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua, the Chief of Defence Forces, Service Commanders and Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome amidst Azimio's initial plan to present their petition to the president at State House.

10.16 am: In Embakasi, Tassia, the situation was calm as residents went about their businesses.

Protesters in Siaya on March 30, 2023. /DAILY NATION

10.15 am: Protesters in Siaya town take to the streets.

9:58 am: Two lorries filled with anti-riot officers and Administration Police were deployed in Nairobi CBD along the Jeevanjee Gardens. They were accompanied by security dogs. 

Roadblocks were mounted along Kenyatta Avenue, Juja Road, Eastleigh area, Moi Avenue and Tom Mboya streets. 

9:40 am: In Kibra, the situation was calm in the morning as various small-scale traders had opened their businesses. However, there were minimal activities in the Karanja area where chaos occurred on Monday, March 27, as traders closed down their businesses

9:29 am: Transport paralysed in Migori as protestors barricade roads with stones.

9:20 am: Protestors light bonfires at Kibuye, along the Kisumu-Kakamega highway.

8:24 am: Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna affirmed that the Azimio regime would not be serving notices to the police moving forward, accusing them of using excessive force in the past demonstrations.

"Azimio holds peaceful protests; it is the law enforcement officers who infuse violence into the demonstrations when they use tear gas," he stated.

Nairobi Senator, Edwin Sifuna. /FILE

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