Fire Outbreak At Kenyatta Family's Northlands City Project

Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome had affirmed on Sunday, March 26 that the demos were illegal but the Azimio coalition remained firm on continuing the demonstrations...

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Mar 27, 2023 - 06:46 Updated: Sep 2, 2023 - 22:02
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Fire Outbreak At Kenyatta Family's Northlands City Project
A screenshot of a video showing Northlands farm on fire on March 27, 2023. /TWITTER

Azimio La Umoja leader Raila Odinga on Monday, March 27 maintained that the planned demonstrations for Monday and Thursday of every week would continue as previously announced.

Meanwhile, heavily armed police officers were seen patrolling the streets of Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) at strategic points as well as areas where demonstrations occurred on Monday, March 20.

Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome had affirmed on Sunday, March 26 that the demos were illegal but the Azimio coalition remained firm on continuing the demonstrations despite the tough warning.

The purpose of Azimio's rally is to challenge President William Ruto to lower the cost of living and to have the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) open its election servers for audit.

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

8.43 pm: In Kisumu, gunshots can be heard around Kondele and Nyalenda as police try to disperse criminals who are taking advantage of today's demos to rob and extort people headed home.

7.36 pm: Fire breaks out at Northlands City Project - a property owned by the family of former President Uhuru Kenyatta- on the evening of Tuesday, March 27, a fire whose value of damages is yet to be established.

The fire was reported to have started minutes after 7 pm with images of the property circulating on social media. From the images, the fire engulfed part of the forest located on the property along the Eastern Bypass even as firefighters were yet to get to the scene by the time of publication.

5.50 pm: Attempts by Raila Odinga to gain access to the CBD from Kibra were repulsed by police, forcing the motorcade to use Lang'ata Road back to Karen.

5.20 pm: Raila Odinga blames Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua following Monday’s raid of a Kenyatta family-owned land in Northlands City and his East Africa Spectre Limited gas plant by goons.

“Those cowards sent goons today to Uhuru Kenyatta’s farm. They have also resorted to sending people to my Spectre factory. That is an act of crime and stupidity,” Odinga told protesters in Nairobi’s Kibera area.

“We have followed the constitution in our politics and protests. Those invading other people’s farms and factories are cowards. Mr Gachagua, the so-called child of the Mau Mau!"

4.46 pm: Azimio principal, Martha Karua calls for the lowering of the cost of unga while warning police against arresting Raila.

"To those swindlers planning to arrest Raila. If they touch him, they'll have touched the whole of Kenya.

"I'm pleading that if they get close to Raila, we will leave Kenya. They should be ready to kill all of us. The price of unga must go down," she said.

4:45 pm: Raila's motorcade made its way through Kibra, whereby he addressed the residents. The ODM leader hailed the crowd for showing support for the cause to lower the cost of living. 

4.22 pm: A middle-aged man has been shot dead in Kisumu in the ongoing protests. Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching & Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) Administrator Alex Ochieng has confirmed the incident stating that the body is lying at the morgue.

According to Ochieng, the deceased was shot in the chest, adding that the unknown man's body was brought by the police.

4.05 pm: Raila Odinga arrives at Kibra via the bridge at Jamhuri Show Ground in the company of other Azimio leaders and hundreds of supporters.

3.31 pm: Police officers lob teargas on Raila's convoy along Ngong Road while leaving Kawangware.

2:57 pm: Two protestors sustain gunshot injuries as police shoot in the air to disperse angry demonstrators. The two were taken to Rongo Sub-County Hospital for treatment.

One had an exit wound while the other had a bullet lodged in his leg while the other, a bullet had exited.

2:34 pm: Police deploy a water canon to repel protesters pelting stones in Kawangware. Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga's convoy was blocked from proceeding.

2.19 pm: Two journalists, Calvin Rock and Clint Obere, who are attached to Africa Uncensored were set free by the police after intervention by John Allan Namu and Citizen TV's Hassan Mugambi.

2.06 pm: Unknown people have invaded East Africa Spectre Limited along Mombasa Road and the property was destroyed.

East Africa Spectre Limited is the leading and largest cylinder manufacturer in the Eastern & Central African region with an installed capacity of about 2 million units per Annum. 

1.39 pm: Raila Odinga's convoy leaves Chungwa House in Lavington and arrives in Kawangware. Accompanying him are Kalonzo Musyoka and Martha Karua among other leaders.

1.28 pm: Unknown people were spotted cutting trees on land belonging to the family of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, set farm on fire

1.07 pm: Police use tear gas to disperse protesters in Homa Bay town.

1.02 pm: Raila Odinga's sister-in-law and North Sakwa MCA Tabu Osewe leads demonstrations in Bondo town, Siaya County.

12.52 pm: A group of youth spotted along the Eastern Bypass accessing land owned by the Kenyatta family.

12.29 pm: John-Allan Namu reveals that two journalists from Africa Uncensored, a media house he runs, were arrested while covering protests in Mathare.

11.47 am: Citizen TV journalists were attacked and robbed by a knife-wielding gang in Kibra as they covered the Monday protests. Read more

11.23 am: NTV Reporter, Brian Obuya was forced to take cover as protesters in Mathare pelt stones at police officers blocking their way to Nairobi CBD.

11.24 am: Police use tear gas to disperse protesters in Mathare, Nairobi during running battles, block roads

11.00 am: A contingent of police officers disperse Azimio protesters near Moi Air Base.

10.43 am: Police disperse protesters near Kisumu Boys' High School in Kisumu.

10.22 am: Roads barricaded by police during protests in Nairobi:

Roads leading to State House including the Processional Way and State House Road

  1. Mlolongo on Mombasa Road
  2. Waiyaki Way and the Central Business District (CBD)
  3. Along Juja and Syokimau and Kibera Estate Roads
  4. Harambee Avenue, City Hall Way, Wabera Street, and Taifa Road in the CBD leading to Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) and City Hall.

At the same time, there was a heavy presence of armed police officers in several parts of Nairobi including Milimani Road and outside the National Archives as well as Kencom in the CBD. Police trucks were also deployed in the Kamukunji area as police officers were stationed at strategic points.

10.20 am: Protesters start gathering in Kibra ahead of Azimio protests.

9.44 am: Protestors close roads in Migori County, including the Migori-Isbania Road, as the Azimio protests gather steam countrywide. The protestors also chanted slogans in the local Dholuo mother tongue.

9.18 am: Kenya Railways has suspended commuter train services scheduled for Monday

"We wish to inform our customers that due to unavoidable circumstances, commuter train services scheduled for tomorrow, Monday the 27th of March, have been suspended," stated Kenya Railways

However, all Madaraka Express link trains between the Nairobi Central Station and the Nairobi Terminus will run as scheduled.

8.43 am: Raila maintains that he will not push for a handshake with President Ruto's government.

"No handshake, we are on, Mondays and Thursdays," he shared.

8.20 am: Police barricades erected along Processional Way leading to State House and Waiyaki Way. Police officers were also spotted in Kibra and Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD).

8.07 am: Anti-riot police and water cannon trucks were spotted along Juja road.

7.58 am: Anti-riot police block access to State House by installing a roadblock on Processional Way. Police trucks were deployed along the Kamukunji area as officers were stationed at strategic points.

7.45 am: Kibra area was calm as no police officers were seen patrolling.

7:25 am: Azimio's Raila maintained that the mass demonstrations slated for Mondays and Thursdays would continue as scheduled. 

"Maandamano Mondays and Thursdays remain on as scheduled. Let the work begin," Raila stated. 

7.23 am: Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua steps up to take charge of his duties in the absence of President William Ruto, who is currently on a trip to Europe.

Despite the threat of protests by Azimio la Umoja leaders and supporters, DP Gachagua arrived at his Harambee House Annex office in Nairobi CBD on Monday, 27 at 5:15 am

"Good morning Kenya, as usual, at 5.15 am in the office today, we are rebuilding our great Nation. Blessed week ahead," he wrote on his social media.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua arrives at his office on March 27, 2023. /TWITTER.RIGATHI GACHAGUA

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