Nairobi Police Commander Adamson Bungei was compelled to interact with a large crowd of protesters who thronged the city on Tuesday, July 23, 2024.
Bungei who other police officers accompanied engaged with the demonstrators along Moi Avenue in Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) where picketing activities had gathered momentum.
During the patrol, Bungei accepted greetings from several public members and protesters armed with their phones, water bottles and Kenyan flags.
While trying to address them, the protesters started chanting ‘We are peaceful’ in a bid to pass a message to Bungei that they are not violent as painted by some political leaders.
Bungei was however forced to retreat as the chants grew wilder in Nairobi CBD.
Nairobi Police commander Adamson Bungei acknowledging greetings from Nairobians at CBD Nairobi.. pic.twitter.com/YWjrdoFraw
— Mike Bowen (@kibbowen) July 23, 2024
Police caught off guard
The protests in Nairobi CBD were largely peaceful from 11 am to 2 pm. Cases of teargas and running battles were barely witnessed around the city centre.
Unlike other protests where a large contingent of police is usually on standby in the city, the Tuesday, July 23, 2024 protests were different.
Police were mainly stationed at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) following the hashtag #OccupyJKIA which went viral on Monday, July 22, 2024, prompting a heavy deployment of police at the international airport.
Reacting to police tactics, Sabati Member of Parliament Caleb Amisi noted that the protesters used the #OccupyJKIA hashtag as a decoy.
“Protesters lied to police that they are going to #OccupyJKIA only to land in #CBD. Bwana people study the art of war and the 48 laws of power. We are dealing with a dangerously lethal generation. The government must look into issues being raised, or else these protests will never end until Jesus comes! Kenya needs a renaissance!” Amisi stated.
Kanja’s warning
Earlier, police Inspector General Douglas Kanja Kirocho warned protesters not to attempt to enter any of the gazetted protected areas while anti-government protests continue.
During a press briefing, IG Kanja stated that intelligence reports show that the current protests are an act of disorder committed by criminals.
“Based on credible intelligence, the current protests have become a haven for goons, motivated and opportunistic offenders who plan to loot and destroy the property of hardworking Kenyans,” he stated.
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