How Nakuru police have gradually changed tact when dealing with protesters
A protester sits on the lion statue outside KCB bank in Nakuru city on July 2, 2024.
The nationwide Gen Z-led protests have been going on for nearly three weeks.
To send the message home, thousands of the youngsters thronged the streets of Nakuru to reject the finance bill 2024.
On June 20, the police showed up to ensure that protestors were protected, closely trailing the crowd with patrol cars.
Police use an armoured vehicle to patrol the streets in Nakuru on July 2, 2024.
At no point were there altercations between the protestors and the authorities.
However, this changed in consecutives demos.
June 25, marked a turnaround for the peaceful protests in Nakuru after police lobbed teargas and opened fire on protestors to disperse them.
What started as a peaceful protest in the streets of Nakuru ended up in fatalities and casualties.
By June 26, at least 13 people had gunshot wounds ranging from severe cases to minor injuries.
Anti-government protesters hold a placard with those who died during protests in Nakuru city on July 2, 2024.
After the announcement by the President that he will not be signing the bill into law, consecutive attempts to protest in Nakuru were shut down by police who were heavily deployed to disperse protestors.
The morning of July 2, started off calmly with a handful of protestors on the streets at around 10 am.
However, there was a change of mood in the city centre after police patrolling on horses and armoured vehicles filled the streets.
A large contingent of police officers patrol the streets in Nakuru city on July 2, 2024.
Soon after, police engaged those protesting in running battles.
As the situation remained calm within the city centre, police went ahead to disperse protestors at KFA who attempted to block the Nakuru -Nairobi highway.
This time round the heavy deployment of police overpowered those protesting. Any sign of those attempting to protest was countered by police with several of them being arrested immediately.
Police use horses to disperse protesters in Nakuru city on July 2, 2024.
Police rounded up the protestors and those who did not manage to run got a quick ride on the police land cruiser.
High speeding police cars criss-crossed the city centre, lobbing teargas in the connecting streets including Moi road, Club road and Pinkam roundabout.
At one point the peace and quiet enjoyed by many at Nyayo gardens vanished as all that could be heard was teargas canisters explosions and gunshots.
Protesters gather outside KCB bank in Nakuru city on July 2, 2024.
Mtaa Wangu has established that from yesterday’s altercation, a young man was shot on his arm with reports of another person also being rushed to hospital after getting injured by a bullet during the protests.
By 3 pm, police had managed to quell the protests and reinstate calmness.
Nonetheless, businesses still remained closed even after the demos stopped.